Pietà
Artist
Robert Richenburg
(American, 1917 - 2006)
CultureAmerican
Date1954-1955
MediumMixed media on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 72 3/8 x 100 1/8 in. (183.8 x 254.3 cm)
Overall, Frame: 73 5/8 x 100 7/8 in. (187 x 256.2 cm)
Overall, Frame: 73 5/8 x 100 7/8 in. (187 x 256.2 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.908
Not on view
DescriptionMixed media on canvas painting; in a frame.Label TextRobert Richenburg American, 1917–2006 Pietà, 1954–55 Mixed media on canvas In this highly abstracted work, the narrative is difficult to discern. The title, however, refers to an enduring Christian subject of the pietà, in which Mary cradles the dead body of Christ in her lap. Here, the linear forms of mother and son are barely visible amid a web of colors dripping down the canvas like a veil of tears. Robert Richenburg’s painting demonstrates how artists used color and line to evoke emotion, sometimes increasing it through the reference of a historical or religious event. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.908 Exhibition History"Action Paintings," Waitzer Community Gallery, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va., October 17, 2009 - May 23, 2010. "Remix: A Fresh Look At Our Modern And Contemporary Art Collections," Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, November 2, 2011 - March 17, 2012.
