The artwork titled “Study for the ‘Colonna Pieta'” is a creation by the renowned artist Michelangelo, estimated to have been produced around the year 1538 in Rome, Italy. This piece is a chalk drawing on paper, aligned with the Mannerism art movement, which is characteristic of the Late Renaissance period. The genre of the artwork is a sketch and study, and it is currently housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Fenway Court) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork depicts a sorrowful scene, which serves as a preliminary study for what is presumed to be a larger composition. At the center of the drawing, a powerful and muscular figure of a lifeless Christ is held by Mary, whose upward and outward gaze and extended arms signify a dramatic invocation to the heavens. Flanking this poignant group are two smaller figures, assisting in supporting Christ’s body, adding dynamism and balance to the composition. The meticulous chalk work reveals Michelangelo’s profound understanding of human anatomy and expression, embodying the emotional depth and complexity typical of the Mannerism movement. The use of lines and shading creates a sense of volume and realism, despite its sketch-like nature.
