Pieta Italian Tapestry

Pieta is an Italian jacquard wall tapestry. It portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus with St John. The original painting (c. 1470) is by Italian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini (1430 – 1516). He is considered to have revolutionized Venetian painting, moving it towards a more sensuous and colorful style. Through the use of clear, slow-drying oil paints, Giovanni created deep, rich tints and detailed shadings. His sumptuous coloring and fluent, atmospheric landscapes had a great effect on the Venetian painting school, especially on his pupils Giorgione and Titian.