Pietà

ca. 1657–60
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 624
Paintings such as this one by the prominent Sevillian artist Valdés Leal were heavily influenced by the Spanish tradition of large-scale, theatrical sculptures, particularly the pasos—carved and painted ensembles of religious figures typically in intense states of emotion that were paraded through the streets before Easter Sunday. The gruesome details of Christ’s suffering, an especially Spanish phenomenon in painting and sculpture, were intended to heighten spiritual fervor.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pietà
  • Artist: Juan de Valdés Leal (Spanish, Seville 1622–1690 Seville)
  • Date: ca. 1657–60
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 63 1/4 x 56 1/2 in. (160.7 x 143.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Victor Wilbour Memorial Fund, 1954
  • Object Number: 54.168
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.