“Up close and personal with the statue”

From  http://www.calcatholic.com/ 

Replica of Michelangelo’s La Pieta installed at Corona church; donated by anonymous parishioner, statue is only one in California licensed by Vatican Observatory Foundation

A full-sized replica of Michelangelo's La Pieta, described in a news release from the San Bernardino diocese as “the stunning sculpture depicting Mary cradling her son Jesus Christ after his crucifixion,” has been installed in the sanctuary of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Corona. 

San Bernardino Bishop Gerald Barnes blessed the statue at a special ceremony at the church on Dec. 14, according to the diocesan news release. 

“The Pieta is an unexpected gift that will bring many people to St. Mary Magdalene and to Jesus Christ,” Fr. Vincent Au, C.M.C., pastor at St. Mary Magdalene, was quoted as saying in the press release. 

“The replica, which is one of only a handful of replicas licensed by the Vatican Observatory Foundation and the only licensed replica in California, was donated by an anonymous donor who belongs to the parish,” said the news release. 

The replica was installed to the left of the altar. 

“The donating family wishes to share the statue with the community in hopes that the replica will give a new sense of spirituality to those who come to view it,” the news release continued.

“The La Pieta replica was produced by Vescovo Buonarroti Art, which is licensed by the Vatican Observatory Foundation,” said the news release. 

“You can’t get close to the original because it’s behind bullet-proof glass and 35 feet away. This allows the people to get up close and personal with the statue,” Steven Bishop, founder of Vescovo Buonarroti Art, was quoted as saying in the diocesan news release. “It provides an opportunity to have a private moment with the sculpture. Those are the moments special to the parishioner.” 

The news release provided the following background: 

“Created by Michelangelo between 1498 and 1500, La Pieta is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. It is the only one that Michelangelo ever signed. The original work of art resides at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome." 

"It is approximately 7 feet tall as it sits on its pedestal and weighs 750 pounds. The full-sized replica is made from a prototype cast from a mold off the original using a marble blend, the results of which are said to be faithful in both detail and subtlety to Michelangelo's original. After casting, it is painstakingly hand-finished by master artisans, ensuring faithful intricate details of the original, including the folds in Mary's garments, limp muscles in Jesus' body, and Michelangelo's personal signature on the delicate sash that runs across Mary's body.”

 

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