À propos de l’œuvre
Piété, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · September 1889 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Little Pietà, after Delacroix, F757Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
In this second version, smaller and lighter, Mary supports Christ in front of a pale yellow sky and brown rocks. The red outline of Christ's hair and the white drape give the scene immediate readability.
Look at the work
An intimate Pietà intended for Willemien
The Virgin stands behind Christ, her right hand resting on his shoulder and her left open towards the cave. Its blue-purple coat extends widely to the left, but leaves more light around the figures.
The body is painted in beige, pale green and pink tones, with clearly visible red hair. The lilac mountain and yellow-gray sky open the background, while the brown rock closes the right edge.
This small version doesn't just reduce F630: it brightens colors, simplifies certain areas and adapts the scene to a more intimate format.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Vatican Museums keep this oil on canvas measuring 42 × 34 cm under inventory 23698. It bears the references F757/JH1776.
A significantly smaller format
F757 corresponds to a 6 format canvas, compared to the 20 format of F630. The figures fill almost the entire height and the landscape is condensed around them.
A lighter palette
The yellow sky, beige body and white headdress make this version brighter. The purple blues of the coat remain deep, but less uniformly dark.
A dedication visible in the corner
The inscription at the bottom right specifies the origin after Delacroix and gives the small painting a personal character, consistent with its family destination.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
Little Pietà measures 42 × 34 cm. Painted in September 1889, it is cataloged F757/JH1776 and registered in the Vatican under number 23698.
A canvas prepared for his sister
The Vatican notice indicates that Van Gogh painted this small version for Willemien. It responds to the large Pietà intended for Theo and kept in Amsterdam.
An inverted image after Delacroix
Like F630, the canvas follows a lithograph taken from Delacroix's Pietà. The printing process explains the inversion of the original composition.
Christ is not a declared self-portrait
The Vatican recalls that the resemblance sometimes proposed with Van Gogh does not constitute a documented intention: the face remains faithful to the reproduced model.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the blue-purple cloak, the red hair of Christ, the white drape, the pale yellow sky, the brown rocks and the inscription of the lower right corner.
- Mary's hand placed on Christ's shoulder
- The red outline of the hair
- The white drape and its blue-gray shadows
- The dedication after Delacroix lower right
Work sheet
| Title | Little Pietà, after Delacroix, F757 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | September 1889 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 42 × 34 cm |
| Inventory | Vatican Museums 23698 · F757 · JH1776 |
| Conservation | Vatican Museums, Vatican City |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A purple-blue softened by ivory and yellow
The vertical format is suitable for a niche, reading corner or narrow wall. Purple blue, ivory and stone brown match antique wood, bronze and cream walls.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The actual photograph of the painting at the Vatican Museums, 3,058 × 3,784 px, has been reduced to a real WebP of 2,424 × 3,000 px, without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
