Michelangelo’s iconic Pietà gets sophisticated lighting system

System respects the artist’s original vision

Michelangelo’s iconic Pietà, housed in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, has been brought back to life with a stunning new lighting design, thanks to the expertise of iGuzzini Illuminazione. This project is part of the works by the Fabric of Saint Peter in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee. It aims to provide pilgrims and visitors with an optimal visual experience of one of the world’s most revered sculptures while enhancing the bespoke sculpture’s safety and stability.

As part of these efforts, the glass window protecting the Pietà has been replaced, and a new lighting system has been installed. The design, conceived by lighting designers Guido Bianchi and Nicoletta Rossi, has been entirely sponsored by iGuzzini Illuminazione, the Recanati-based company behind the previous lighting system installed in 2018.

When creating the Pietà in the late 15th century, Michelangelo meticulously considered how light would interact with the marble surfaces of the sculpture. He smoothed the stone so that only a few candles would be needed to make the work shine. iGuzzini’s new lighting system respects the artist’s original vision, illuminating the masterpiece with a soft, precise light that enhances its intricate details and radiant beauty.

Cristiano Venturini, CEO of iGuzzini Illuminazione, expressed the company’s pride in participating in the project. Illuminating masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà is an honour for those who, like us at iGuzzini, believe that beauty and culture are at the heart of social innovation.

“This project allows us to highlight the work’s most imperceptible nuances, enhancing every movement and detail sculpted by the great Renaissance master. The new lighting system also offers a more sustainable solution, reflecting a responsible choice for the future.”

iGuzzini’s Sipario floodlight

The Pietà is now illuminated by iGuzzini’s Sipario floodlight, a luminaire designed to meet the demanding lighting needs of artworks and cultural venues. The Sipario is compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient, with integrated innovative technology and easy-to-replace components.

At its core, it features iGuzzini’s patented Opti Beam Reflector optics, which produce a sharp, clean beam of light without the unwanted double-ring effect in other lighting systems. This allows for a balanced and calibrated play of light, enhancing the sculpture’s fine details and overall grandeur.

Sipario’s design prioritises sustainability, using mass-balanced, recycled, and recyclable materials. Its energy consumption efficiency and ease of maintenance also contribute to a more environmentally friendly lighting solution. The luminaire features interchangeable optics, lenses, and refractors, ensuring longevity and consistent performance. Additionally, its manual dimming and adjustment features, along with a patent-pending Push&Go system, make it easy to fine-tune the lighting to achieve the perfect effect.

The new lighting system offers advanced connectivity options, integrating wireless technologies such as Casambi and ORT sensors. However, in the case of Saint Peter’s Basilica, a wired DALI protocol has been used to manage the system’s functionality. The Sipario floodlights are arranged in groups that can be switched on separately, allowing flexibility in adjusting the light intensity to suit various scenarios and events. The system is controlled via a KNX system, with four buttons representing the different lighting scenarios, offering a consistent experience for visitors.

The lighting design is divided into four distinct scenarios, each highlighting different aspects of the Pietà and the surrounding space. The ‘North—sculpture focus’ scenario creates a balanced chiaroscuro effect, enhancing the sculpture’s three-dimensional quality. Visitors can appreciate each detail while experiencing the overall harmony of the piece.

The ‘East-light blade’ scenario features a narrow beam of light that sharply contrasts with the surrounding shadows. This draws attention to the face of the Virgin Mary and creates a powerful visual impact.

The ‘South—whole light’ scenario is used for special events, providing brighter, more sustained illumination that makes the sculpture visible from a greater distance. Finally, the ‘West—daily light’ scenario uses a series of track-mounted floodlights to highlight Pietà’s form while softly lighting the surrounding space.

These lighting scenarios enhance the viewer’s sculpture experience and highlight the Pietà’s theological and devotional significance. The precise control over light intensity and placement allows the viewer to appreciate the work up close and afar, creating a consistent and unified perception of Michelangelo’s masterpiece.

Hero image: The Pietà’s new lighting system aims to provide pilgrims and visitors with an optimal visual experience of one of the world’s most revered sculptures while enhancing the bespoke sculpture’s safety and stability. Credit: iGuzzini Illuminazione