Pietà

[pee-ey-tah, pyey-tah, pee-ey-tuh, pyey-] /ˌpi eɪˈtɑ, pyeɪˈtɑ, piˈeɪ tə, ˈpyeɪ-/
noun, (sometimes lowercase) Fine Arts.
1.
a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ, usually shown held on her lap.
Origin
1635-45; < Italian: literally, pity < Latin pietās piety; cf. pity
British Dictionary definitions for Pietà

pietà

/pɪɛˈtɑː/
noun
1.
a sculpture, painting, or drawing of the dead Christ, supported by the Virgin Mary
Word Origin
Italian: pity, from Latin pietāspiety
Word Origin and History for Pietà

Pieta

n.

"Virgin holding the dead body of Christ," 1640s, from Italian pieta, from Latin pietatem (see piety).

Pietà in Culture
Pietà [(pyay-tah; pee-ay-tah)]

A painting, drawing, or sculpture of Mary, the mother of Jesus, holding the dead body of Jesus. The word means “pity” in Italian. (See photo, next page.)

Note: The most famous of four Pietàs by Michelangelo is a sculpture at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.