A subject in Christian art which shows the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus Christ. It is a particular form of the Lamentation, the moment when Christ’s body was removed from the cross and mourned over by his friends and disciples. The Pietà is most commonly seen in sculpture, but examples also exist in painting and drawing.

Biography
Born
1835
Died
1910
Nationality
Scottish
Death place
Machrihanish
McTaggart's land and seascapes reflect his fascination with nature and man's relationship with it. His bold colours and vigorous brushwork find parallels in Impressionist painting, although essentially form part of a distinct Scottish tradition. They also echo qualities in paintings by Constable and Turner, whom he admired. McTaggart was born on the Mull of Kintyre and returned there frequently from his studio in Glasgow and later from his home in Broomieknow, just outside Edinburgh. He trained in Edinburgh at the Trustees' Academy and enjoyed early success when elected as an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy aged twenty-four.
Glossary terms
Pietà