Deposition

I was asked to share my favorite piece of art and connect it to theology in class today. I was excited because I love sharing the story behind Michaelangelo’s second Pieta Deposition. I could actually feel his experience of Christ when I looked at it. And I want you to experience that as well. So let me tell you the story as we go on a little journey.

First stop. Michelangelo’s first Pieta. It was done in his early life and is located in St. Peter’s basilica behind a wall of glass.

Take a moment and look at the piece. Write down everything notice. What does it make you think and feel?

Now here is the second Pieta or Deposition. Done at the end of his career. Write down everything you notice about it. What does it make you think and feel?

Take a moment to compare and contrast the two works.

Now I want to share some of the history of these two pieces. And like I said, the reason I love it is for the story. So pay close attention to the details.

Fun facts:

• Michaelangelo was one of the greatest sculptures. He thought sculpting was the highest form of art and he competed with Da Vinci on whether painting or sculpting was more difficult.

• The first Pieta was done in his early life. And you may have noticed there is a strong focus on Mary. She is large and the center and top of the triangle. Jesus is frail and small held in her arms. This correlates to the theology he held at the time that was more Catholic. Fast forward many years and he has created the Moses, David and many other impeccable other art pieces.

• His second piece was done at the end of his life. Originally to decorate his own tomb.

• At this stage of his life his theology has changed. He had joined the Nicodemites who had a Protestant theology but did not break from the Catholic Church to avoid persecution.

• Began the piece at the age of 72 and worked on it tirelessly throughout the night by candlelight. Complained that the marble was flawed.

• Jesus is at the center. Mary Magdalene and Virgin Mary at his side. Nicodemus at the top, believed to be a self portrait of Michelangelo.

• After 8 years of work he attempted to destroy the piece.

• This marked the end of his work on the sculptures.

Here’s what got me. He couldn’t finish. If you look closely you will notice that the sculpture is left incomplete. It made me curious. What was it about this specific sculpture that he left it undone and tried to destroy it?

Why do you think?

This was my question as I stood in the museum.

Now imagine you are me. You turn around and on the wall you see a poem written by Michelangelo. Maybe this will help us answer the question.

“The course of my life has now brought me through a stormy sea, in a frail ship, to the common port where, landing, we account for every deed, wretched or holy.

So that now I clearly see how wrong the fond illusion was that made art my idol and my king leading me to want what harmed me.

My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy: what sense have they, now that I approach two deaths-the first of which I know is sure, the second threatening.

Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm my soul turned to that divine love that to embrace us opened his arms upon the cross.”

Here’s the conclusion I came to.

Unfinished

I see the scratch marks.

The hand on the back isn’t defined. The smooth that runs into the jagged. One face has detail, one does not. Walk around the back and it looks he just sketched the outline. I don’t understand. Is this supposed to mean something? I thought he was the best.

He couldn’t finish. Something had changed. At 80 years old, Michelangelo couldn’t finish his last sculpture of Christ. What had changed? He did.

You can see the emotion all over it. It’s like he started and then his heart would get all twisted up. So he’d start working on another area, but stop.

He blamed the marble, but we all know that wasn’t true. I saw David yesterday and I know he could use any material. It was deeper.

I could feel his heart breaking as I looked at this piece. He had placed himself in the art. Physically and emotionally. With a self portrait as Nicodemus, he now stands at the top holding Christ. A mirror contrast to Mary as the focal in his original. What has changed? He did.

Now he holds Christ. Not the weak, small Christ He was before. Now the mangled, large, heavy Christ. The one he now feels the weight of. Because now he is the one carrying him. He feels the weight of his sin. He holds the one who holds his sin. And it’s heavy.

He can’t finish. He can barely look. To finish would be to compete with the one who said, “It is finished.”

So here lays the marble. Scratched and clawed. Agonized and pained over. The marble of sin that can’t be chipped away.

Art was the greatest treasure of his life. But now in the face of death, he sees something more beautiful. Grace. Grace that might never be depicted in stone or painting.

So he would lay down his chisel. For the one who picked up the cross.

The reason I love this piece is because I can feel what he was feeling when I look at it. It was his heart on display.