The artwork “Pieta,” created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1876, is an exquisite oil on canvas composition situated within the movements of Academicism and Neoclassicism. Measuring 148 by 230 cm, this religious painting is housed in the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas.
The artwork captures a poignant moment featuring the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Jesus Christ, surrounded by mournful angels. The Virgin Mary, depicted with a sorrowful yet serene expression and a halo around her head, wears dark attire emphasizing her grief. Jesus’ body is rendered with striking realism, highlighting his sacrificial death. The surrounding angels, draped in colorful garments, emanate a sense of solemn reverence through their gestures and facial expressions. At the forefront, notable objects such as a golden pitcher, basin, and the crown of thorns add symbolic depth to the scene, reinforcing the themes of sacrifice and redemption central to the composition. Bouguereau’s masterful use of light, color, and anatomical precision culminates in a deeply emotional and spiritually evocative masterpiece.
