Pietà

[ pee-ey-tah, pyey-tah, pee-ey-tuh, pyey- ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ, usually shown held on her lap.

pietà

/ pɪɛˈtɑː /

noun

1. a sculpture, painting, or drawing of the dead Christ, supported by the Virgin Mary

Pietà

1. A painting, drawing, or sculpture of Mary, the mother of Jesus , holding the dead body of Jesus . The word means “pity” in Italian.

Notes

The most famous of four Pietàs by Michelangelo is a sculpture at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pietà¹

1635–45; < Italian: literally, pity < Latin pietās piety; pity

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pietà¹

Italian: pity, from Latin pietās piety

Example Sentences

Her new single, “Pieta,” is something you can worship and blaspheme at the same time.

From The Daily Beast

I shot Pieta with the equivalent of $100,000… My aim is to take the temperature of the world from time to time.

From The Daily Beast

And up until Elin, the final act has been become borderline pieta.

From The Daily Beast

This suddint bust of centiment on mi part, awoke the sleapin pieta of the trak pedlar, and he at wunst tuk me tu do for swarin.

From Project Gutenberg

You didn't read the words in raised letters on the base of the pieta?

From Project Gutenberg

She remembered how once she had stood with him in St. Peter's—in front of the "Pieta."

From Project Gutenberg

In one chapel the Pieta of Michael Angelo, a marble group, and a masterpiece of his, is placed.

From Project Gutenberg

The neighbouring church of St. Pieta, on the contrary, can be called large and grand.

From Project Gutenberg