The Pietà was Michelangelo’s first “number one hit”. At the ripe old age of 23 years, he had produced one of the greatest statues of all time. The innocence, sensitivity and stillness of this particular early work would, in my opinion, never be achieved again in Michelangelo’s 72-year career. This lecture will explore the meaning and tradition of the “Pietà” subject in art and also address why Michelangelo’s is the most famous interpretation.