9The Pietà – Michelangelo

The Pieta sculpture established Michelangelo as an artist early in his career, even if his subsequent works, such as the David statue and the Sistine Chapel paintings, are more well known.

It is the sole piece of Michelangelo’s that has his signature. As far as we know, this is the only Renaissance sculpture to have been approved for installation in St. Peter’s Basilica by the Chapter of Saint Peter.