The Pieta appears to have originated in Germany(where it is known as the Vesperbild) during the mid to late 13th century era of Gothic art (although equally early examples have been found in Spainand in Orthodox churches in Russia). It then spread to Italyin time for the Early Renaissance (c.1400-90), although it was not in widespread use as a form of religious art.
Several writers, such as St. Bonaventure, St. Bridget of Sweden, and St. Bernardino of Siena, imagined Mary’s thoughts as she held her dead Son. It wasn’t long before artists began to visualize these new devotional trends. The early Pietas were mostly sculptures done in stone, though sometimes wood. All of these Pietàs were devotional images and were intended as a focal point for contemplation and prayer. Even though the statues are horrific, the intent was to show that God and Mary, divine figures, were sympathetic to human suffering, and to the pain, and loss experienced by medieval viewers.
Images:
Top- German- 1420
Bottom: Kathe Kollwitz- 1932
