Michelangelo’s Pieta is one of the most famous sculptures in history. Housed inside St. Peter’s Basilica, this marble masterpiece captures both immense grief and incredible technical skill.
This quiz looks at the history, design, and survival of this iconic work. You will see questions about the marble’s origin, the artist’s signature, and the dramatic restoration following a 1972 attack.
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In which famous landmark is Michelangelo’s Pieta currently housed?
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica
The Louvre
The Louvre
The Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery
The Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums
What specific religious scene is depicted in the Pieta?
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus
The Last Supper
The Last Supper
Mary mourning over the body of Jesus
Mary mourning over the body of Jesus
The Descent from the Cross
The Descent from the Cross
Approximately how old was Michelangelo when he completed the Pieta?
21 years old
21 years old
24 years old
24 years old
30 years old
30 years old
27 years old
27 years old
What material did Michelangelo use to sculpt the Pieta?
Marble
Marble
Limestone
Limestone
Travertine
Travertine
Bronze
Bronze
Where exactly inside St. Peter’s Basilica is the Pieta located?
The first chapel on the right as you enter the basilica
The first chapel on the right as you enter the basilica
The Vatican Gardens
The Vatican Gardens
The crypt below the main altar
The crypt below the main altar
The North Transept
The North Transept
What unique distinction does Michelangelo’s Pieta have among all his sculptures?
It is the only sculpture he finished alone
It is the only sculpture he finished alone
It was his first commissioned work in Rome
It was his first commissioned work in Rome
It is his only signed work
It is his only signed work
It was donated by a French cardinal
It was donated by a French cardinal
Where did Michelangelo physically carve his signature on the Pieta?
On Mary’s sash
On Mary’s sash
On the back of the mantle
On the back of the mantle
On the base of the sculpture
On the base of the sculpture
Hidden on the sole of Jesus’ foot
Hidden on the sole of Jesus’ foot
Who commissioned the Pieta for their funeral monument?
The Medici family
The Medici family
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
A French Cardinal
A French Cardinal
A Roman noblewoman
A Roman noblewoman
From which quarries was the marble for the Pieta sourced?
Parian
Parian
Carrara
Carrara
Proconnesian
Proconnesian
Pentelic
Pentelic
What artistic choice in the Pieta frequently sparks discussion regarding Mary’s appearance?
The intricate lace on her garment
The intricate lace on her garment
The exaggerated size of her hands
The exaggerated size of her hands
Her stoic expression of grief
Her stoic expression of grief
Her youthful, ageless appearance
Her youthful, ageless appearance
In what year did the infamous attack on the Pieta take place?
1970
1970
1968
1968
1974
1974
1972
1972
What tool did the attacker use to damage the Pieta in 1972?
A geological hammer
A geological hammer
A chisel
A chisel
A crowbar
A crowbar
A screwdriver
A screwdriver
Which part of Mary’s body was severed at the elbow during the 1972 attack on the Pieta?
Her right leg
Her right leg
Her left arm
Her left arm
Her left leg
Her left leg
Her right arm
Her right arm
What was the name of the individual who attacked the Pieta?
Laszlo Toth
Laszlo Toth
Marco Moretti
Marco Moretti
Antonio Bianchi
Antonio Bianchi
Giuseppe Rossi
Giuseppe Rossi
What material was mixed with glue to invisibly piece together the fragments during the Pieta’s restoration?
Plaster of Paris
Plaster of Paris
Marble dust
Marble dust
White cement
White cement
Chalk powder
Chalk powder
What security measure was implemented regarding the Pieta following its 1972 restoration?
The statue was raised onto a significantly higher pedestal
The statue was raised onto a significantly higher pedestal
The statue was moved to a private vault
The statue was moved to a private vault
The statue was placed behind bulletproof glass
The statue was placed behind bulletproof glass
The statue was restricted to viewing only by clergy
The statue was restricted to viewing only by clergy
Critics often highlight which contrast regarding the figures of Mary and Jesus in the sculpture?
The emotional contrast between anger and grief
The emotional contrast between anger and grief
The physical contrast between life and death
The physical contrast between life and death
The stylistic contrast between classical and gothic
The stylistic contrast between classical and gothic
The moral contrast between good and evil
The moral contrast between good and evil
In which notable 20th-century exhibition outside of the Vatican was the Pieta displayed?
The 1970 Osaka World Exposition
The 1970 Osaka World Exposition
The 1964 New York World’s Fair
The 1964 New York World’s Fair
The 1958 Brussels World’s Fair
The 1958 Brussels World’s Fair
The 1939 New York World’s Fair
The 1939 New York World’s Fair
What technique did Michelangelo utilize to create depth and shadow within the marble robes of Mary?
The size ratio of Mary to Jesus
The size ratio of Mary to Jesus
The realism of the anatomical details
The realism of the anatomical details
The polished finish of the marble skin
The polished finish of the marble skin
The deep, fluid folds of the drapery
The deep, fluid folds of the drapery
According to legend, why did Michelangelo decide to sign the sash of the Virgin Mary?
He wanted to dedicate the sculpture to his mother
He wanted to dedicate the sculpture to his mother
He wanted to show his deep personal piety to the Pope
He wanted to show his deep personal piety to the Pope
It was a requirement in his contract with the cardinal
It was a requirement in his contract with the cardinal
He overheard visitors attributing the work to a rival sculptor
He overheard visitors attributing the work to a rival sculptor
What is a commonly noted emotional characteristic regarding the face of Jesus in the Pietà?
An expression of intense physical agony and contortion
An expression of intense physical agony and contortion
A state of ecstatic joy and triumph
A state of ecstatic joy and triumph
A look of deep anger and resentment
A look of deep anger and resentment
A serene, peaceful expression showing little sign of suffering
A serene, peaceful expression showing little sign of suffering
The Pieta is widely considered a defining masterwork of which artistic period?
High Renaissance
High Renaissance
Baroque
Baroque
Mannerism
Mannerism
Gothic
Gothic
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