Stato della Città del Vaticano
Pontificate of H.H. Benedict XVI - 4th Year - 2008 Gold Coinage 50 EURO MASTERPIECES OF SCULPTURE IN VATICAN CITY “the Pietà”
- On the 50 Euro coin Michelangelo's Pietà is depicted. Sculpted by the Florentine genius at the age of 22, it is the only sculpture signed by the artist. The Pietà was made from a block of marble chosen personally by Michelangelo in the quarry of Carrara. It represents the Virgin Mary who holds in her lap the body of Christ brought down from the cross. In 1499 the sculpture was placed in the Chapel of Saint Petronilla in St. Peter’s Basilica where it remained until 1517 when it was moved to the old Sacristy. In 1749 the sculpture was placed where it is found today in St. Peter’s Basilica, only being moved once since then when it was put on display at the Universal Exposition of New York from 1962 to 1964.