La Pieta: Nature of Giving and Loss - Austin Persinger

The story “Federigo’s Falcon” by Giovanni Boccaccio contains a theme that includes the nature of giving and sacrifice, love, and loss. There is a piece of artwork that matches the theme quite well. The masterpiece La Pieta, sculpted out of marble by Buonarroti Michelangelo, displays the nature of giving and sacrifice, while also exposing a significant sign of loss that is also displayed in “Federigo’s Falcon”. Giving and sacrifice is shown in the sculpture because Jesus was a sacrifice for the world and the people in it. In the story, Federigo sacrifices his beloved falcon to serve the love of his life, Monna. This piece of art shows Virgin Mary’s true love for Jesus, as she is cradling him in her arms as he lies dead. Federigo proves his extreme love for Monna throughout the entire story. He spends all of his wealth trying to impress her and also kills his prize possession, the bird, because he had nothing else to serve Monna for dinner. Losing something significant in life can be a difficult task, and it is shown in the sculpture. Virgin Mary loses her son, and it shows how saddened she is by it even though she knows its for the good.Federigo has one thing left in his life that is truly important, the falcon. He loses his falcon after realizing that Monna came to him to ask for the falcon. At first, Federigo doesn’t know how to cope with the situation, but in the end, he gains what he has been trying to get for a majority of his life, Monna. The theme of “Federigo’s Falcon” is exhibited well through giving and sacrifice and a sign of loss, which connects strongly with this piece of art.

Buonarroti, Michelangelo. La Pieta. 1499. Sculpted of Marble. Saint Peters Basilica. Web. Feb. 11, 2014