Photo by Tim Durski

ATLANTA—A life-size marble casting of Michelangelo’s ‘Pietà’ is on display at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. The Carrara marble, exact casting of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, is the 54th of only 100 authorized to be created and placed.

The cathedral is located at 2699 Peachtree Road, NE.

Five hundred years ago, Michelangelo unveiled what would come to be regarded as one of the world’s great masterpieces of inspired art. The Pietà was both the consummate expression of Michelangelo’s artistic abilities and an embodiment of the divine inspiration that guided his work.

Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., and Msgr. Francis McNamee, rector of the cathedral, blessed the exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 4.

This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the crucifixion. The Pietà is the only piece of art Michelangelo ever signed. Arte Divine recreated Michelangelo’s masterpiece, Pietà in cast marble using a mold derived from the original Pietà (circa 1498-99, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City). This posthumous Pietà is a precise, 1:1 casting that is faithful in every detail to Michelangelo’s original.

“Our cathedral, school, parish community and the Archdiocese of Atlanta are so very blessed to have this iconic image of our Christian faith placed here at the Cathedral of Christ the King,” said Msgr. McNamee. “For our youth, the Pietà serves to focus the hearts and minds of our students toward God and keeps him ever present in their daily lives. For our sick and elderly, the Pietà serves to inspire healing, hope, peace and compassion to each person and their loved ones.”

“We are truly grateful to Archbishop Hartmayer, Msgr. McNamee and the parishioners for the opportunity to place Michelangelo’s masterpiece at the Cathedral of Christ the King” said Pat Kerivan of Arte Divine.

Participating in the blessing of the Pietà Nov. 4 at the Cathedral of Christ King in Atlanta were, from left to right, Father Gerardo Ceballos Gonzalez, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv.; Msgr. Frank McNamee, cathedral rector; and Father Peeter Pedroza. Photo by Tim Durski

These castings are being acquired by corporate and private benefactors, and donated as legacy gifts to Catholic locations, like the Cathedral of Christ the King. The parish seeks a benefactor or benefactors to secure the casting as a permanent exhibit at the cathedral.

Arte Divine is an organization dedicated to sharing the sacred art of Michelangelo through collaborations with the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums.

“It is Arte Divine’s mission to place Michelangelo’s Pietà in 100 sacred and secular settings around the world. In so doing we hope to elevate the hearts and minds of millions of the faithful who will never have the opportunity to travel to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome and personally experience the transcendent beauty of this divinely inspired work that is Michelangelo’s Pietà,” Kerivan said.

Members of the public are invited to view the piece between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily through February 2022. For more information, visit https://cathedralctk.com/Pietà.