This is Michaelangelo's "La Pieta" inside St. Peter's Basilica. It is a wonderful piece of art.

" Michelangelo (my kel AN jel oh) was born in Italy in the village of Caprese. His father was a government agent. He attended school, and at the age of 12 he became an apprentice to a famous painter in Florence, Domenico Ghirlandajo.

After a year or so he stopped painting and began working as a sculptor. It was during this time that he lived with the Medici (MED ee chee) family, an influential Italian family. When they lost power he went to Rome, and it was there he carved the marble sculpture "Pieta"* (pea ay TAH) when he was 23 years old. The sculpture shows Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus after He was taken down from the cross. Such a marvelous work, and only the first of many larger than life statues he would create." (From: http://gardenofpraise.com/art50.htm)