Giovanni Bellini.
Pietà.
1505. Tempera on panel.
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, Italy

Bellini painted a number of renditions of the Pietà during his long career. In most of the earlier versions, Bellini chose to have an almost vertical Christ supported most often by Mary and Joseph of Aramathea, among others in his entourage. This 1505 version, among his latest paintings, poses Christ in the familiar pose made iconic by Michelangelo's Vatican sculpture of the Pieta of 5 years earlier.