Artwork
Pietà (Kopie nach)
Pietà (Kopie nach) is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Marcello Venusti. It dates from 1547 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1547 by the Roman Mannerist Marcello Venusti, this oil painting titled Pietà (Kopie nach) presents a compact, dramatic religious tableau. Executed on a modest scale, the work now belongs to the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it is displayed among other 16th‑century pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a grieving woman in a light dress, her arms lifted toward the heavens, standing above a kneeling male figure whose torso is exposed. Flanking the central pair are two diminutive attendants who grasp the man's arms, suggesting a moment of supplication or rescue within a sacred narrative.
Technique & Style
Venusti employs a stark chiaroscuro, setting the figures against a deep, almost black background that heightens the contrast between light and shadow. The crisp modeling of flesh and the elongated, elegant poses reflect the Mannerist taste for artificiality and refined surface treatment, while the limited palette emphasizes the emotional intensity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Born near Como, Venusti was known for producing scaled oil copies of celebrated works, including a version of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. This Pietà follows that practice, reproducing a composition likely derived from a more monumental source. The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained in public view.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marcello Venusti (1512 – 15 October 1579) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Rome in the mid-16th century.
