LOW mintage limit, only 5,000! Certificate of Authenticity + BOX. Gold Gilded with Svarowski Crystal Inserted. The Pietà (Italian: [pjeta]; 14981499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was commissioned for the French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères, who was a representative in Rome. The sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the cardinal’s funeral monument, but was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The theme is of Northern origin, popular by that time in France but not yet in Italy. Michelangelo’s interpretation of the Pietà is unprecedented in Italian sculpture. It is an important work as it balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism. Laocoon This statue group was found in 1506 on the Esquiline Hill in Rome and immediately identified as the Laocoön described by Pliny the Elder as a masterpiece of the sculptors of Rhodes. The story is that during the Trojan War, Laocoön, a priest of Apollo in the city of Troy, warned his fellow Trojans against taking in the wooden horse left by the Greeks outside the city gates. Athena and Poseidon, who were favouring the Greeks, sent two great sea-serpents which have wrapped their coils around Laocoön and his two sons and are killing them. From the Roman point of view, the death of these innocents was crucial to the decision of Aeneas, who heeded Laocoön’s warning, to flee Troy, and this led to the eventual founding of Rome. There has been much debate over the date of the statue, which would seem to have been made around 40-30 B. The Belvedere Apollo This statue was part of the collection which Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere held in his palace in Rome. The god, Apollo, moves forward majestically and seems to have just released an arrow from the bow which he originally carried in his left hand. The work has been dated to mid-way through the 2nd century A. And is considered to be a copy of an original bronze statue of 330-320 B. By Leochares, one of the artists who worked on the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The statue has always been greatly admired, but owes its fame particularly to Johann Joachim Winckelmann who considered it the sublime expression of Greek art, “of all the works of antiquity that have escaped destruction, the statue of Apollo represents the highest ideal of art”. Nice Authentic add to your collection. We are established and guarantee the authenticity of the products we sell. We have our inventory of precious metals bought only from reputable mints. Please consider your fair Feedback. Let us know if you need this overnight. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Fast shiiping will take 3-4 days(extra charge). For damaged items, please save all outside and inside packaging and wrapping for inspection by the Post Office. Return item must be sent within 14 days after it has been received. We will do our best to satisfy our customers. Fell free to contact if you have any questions. Track Page Views With. Auctiva’s FREE Counter. The item “Cook Islands 2009-2011 4×5$ Vatican Art 4 Silver Coin Set” is in sale since Monday, March 28, 2016. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins\ World\Australia & Oceania\South Pacific”. The seller is “worldancient” and is located in Etobicoke, Ontario. This item can be shipped worldwide.