Bouguereau "Pietà" Art Cushion Cover — 4 Sizes, With or Without Eco Insert, Spun Polyester, Machine Washable
PILLOWS & CUSHIONS · ART & DÉCOR COLLECTION
Bouguereau's Most Profound Work. Sacred Art for the Home.
Bouguereau's "Pietà" (1876) · 100% spun polyester · 4 sizes · With or without eco insert · Metal zipper · Machine washable · From $27.99
Quick Answer: A cushion cover printed with Bouguereau's 1876 Pietà — one of the most emotionally powerful and technically accomplished religious paintings of the 19th century. Four sizes (14"×14" to 20"×20") with or without an eco-friendly recycled polyester insert. 100% spun polyester, wrinkle-free, beige metal zipper, machine washable. Public domain fine art. Cover-only from $27.99 · With insert from $32.99.
The Pietà is one of the most enduring subjects in Western art — a scene of grief, love, and sacred loss that artists from Michelangelo to El Greco have returned to across five centuries. Bouguereau's 1876 interpretation brings his extraordinary technical mastery to the subject in a way that is distinctly 19th-century Academic in its realism and entirely timeless in its emotional weight. This is not simply a painting that is beautiful. It is a painting that means something.
As a public domain work, this painting belongs to everyone — and this cushion cover brings it from the museum into the home, for those who want to live with one of the great works of religious art in their daily environment.
About the Painting — "Pietà," William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1876.
The Pietà — Italian for "pity" or "compassion" — is a subject depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the body of Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion. It is one of the most profound and frequently revisited subjects in the history of Western religious art, given its most famous treatment by Michelangelo in his marble sculpture (c. 1498–1499, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City) and interpreted by many of the greatest painters and sculptors of every subsequent era.
Bouguereau's 1876 oil painting brings his hallmark technical virtuosity to this sacred subject. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary in a moment of devastating grief — her gaze upward, the body of Christ across her lap, surrounded by angels — rendered in the luminous, hyper-realistic Academic style that characterized his finest work. Where Michelangelo's marble Pietà achieves its power through idealized stillness, Bouguereau's painting achieves it through emotional immediacy: the figures are real, the grief is palpable, and the light that falls across the composition has the quality of a direct visitation.
Bouguereau (1825–1905) was deeply rooted in the Catholic faith that informed so much of 19th-century French Academic painting, and his religious works are among the most sincerely felt in his oeuvre. The Pietà stands as one of his most significant and moving achievements — a painting that commands respect regardless of the viewer's religious background, simply by virtue of its technical and emotional power.
As a work from 1876, it is fully in the public domain and freely reproduced.
Four Sizes. Cover Only or With Insert. Full Pricing Below.
Select your size and insert preference from the option menus above. All prices shown per cushion.
| Size | Without Insert | With Insert | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14"×14" | $27.99 | $32.99 | Accent layer, prayer room, reading chair, layered arrangements |
| 16"×16" | $28.99 | $33.99 | Standard decorative throw size — sofa, armchair, reading room |
| 18"×18" | $29.99 | $36.99 | Most popular decorative cushion size — versatile for all settings |
| 20"×20" | $33.99 | $41.99 | Large statement size — sofa centerpiece, prayer space, bedroom focal point |
Cover Only or With Insert — Which Should You Choose?
OPTION 1
Without Insert — Cover Only
Choose this if you already own a cushion insert at home in your preferred size. The beige metal zipper makes swapping covers straightforward.
From $27.99 (14"×14") · up to $33.99 (20"×20")
OPTION 2
With Insert — Complete & Ready
The eco-friendly 100% recycled polyester insert is designed three inches larger than the cover — ensuring extra volume, plushness, and a full, well-stuffed appearance from day one.
From $32.99 (14"×14") · up to $41.99 (20"×20")
💡 The insert ships vacuum-packed separately to minimize creasing during delivery. Fluff after unpacking for full loft.
Who Is This Cushion For? 4 Scenarios.
Scenario 1: You are a person of faith and want sacred art to be part of your daily living environment.
For Catholics and Christians who want their home to reflect their faith, a Pietà cushion is a natural and beautiful choice — a meaningful work of sacred art that belongs in a living room, bedroom, or prayer space as much as it belongs in a church or museum. The 20"×20" at $33.99 cover-only gives Bouguereau's composition its fullest visual presence.
Scenario 2: You are a collector of religious art or an admirer of the Pietà across art history.
From Michelangelo's marble to Bouguereau's canvas, the Pietà has attracted the greatest artists of every era. This cushion brings Bouguereau's 1876 interpretation — one of the finest oil paintings of the subject — into a home collection in an accessible and displayable format.
Scenario 3: You want a deeply meaningful gift for a devout Catholic, a person of faith, or someone who has experienced loss.
The Pietà is one of the most recognized and emotionally resonant images in the Christian tradition. As a gift, it communicates sincere care and spiritual awareness. The 18"×18" with insert at $36.99 is complete, ready to display, and carries the kind of meaning that generic home goods simply cannot. Natural fit for Christmas, Easter, baptisms, confirmations, and bereavement.
Scenario 4: You appreciate Bouguereau's work and want to complete a collection alongside "Rest" and "Sewing."
The store now carries three Bouguereau cushions spanning his full range — the intimate domestic warmth of "Rest", the quiet focused craft of "Sewing", and the profound spiritual weight of "Pietà." Together they represent the full scope of what made Bouguereau the most celebrated painter of his era.
Quality Construction. Zero Maintenance Anxiety.
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 100% Spun Polyester | Retains shape, resists wrinkling, and eliminates the need for ironing — the cushion looks freshly styled without any effort |
| Metal Zipper with Beige Head | Sturdy metal construction for long-lasting quality; the beige colorway blends with Bouguereau's warm, muted palette without visual distraction |
| Eco-Friendly Insert | 100% recycled polyester fill — sustainably sourced and designed three inches larger than the cover for extra volume and plush fullness |
| Machine Washable | Remove the cover, machine wash, replace — the painting's colors stay vivid and the cover stays fresh without dry cleaning |
| Compact Shipping | Cover ships separately from the vacuum-packed insert — minimizes creasing during transit so the painting arrives looking sharp |
Style It. Where Bouguereau's Pietà Belongs.
The Pietà's palette — deep umber, soft ivory, heavenly blue robes, and the warm golden light characteristic of Bouguereau's religious works — pairs naturally with:
- Traditional and devotional home interiors — spaces decorated with religious art, icons, or objects of faith where this painting belongs naturally and reverently alongside other expressions of belief
- Warm-toned traditional rooms — the deep umber and ivory palette pairs with the same warm wood furniture and rich-toned walls that suit the other Bouguereau cushions; coordinates with the Serene Embroidered 7-Piece Comforter Set's red, brown, and ivory palette
- Alongside the other Bouguereau cushions — "Rest" and "Sewing" share the same warm academic palette; displayed together the three Bouguereau cushions create a coherent collection spanning the full range of his subject matter
- The Van Gogh Seated Zouave as a historical counterpoint — the Van Gogh cushion alongside this Bouguereau Pietà places two of the greatest painters of the same decade in direct dialogue — the French Academic master and the Post-Impressionist revolutionary, separated by a gulf of style but united by the same era
- Rustic brown and warm wood furniture — the rustic brown bedside table provides the warm wood foundation that makes traditional religious art feel at home in a bedroom
The Complete Bouguereau Collection — Three Cushions, One Master.
Three Bouguereau cushions are now available in the store — spanning his full range from intimate domestic life to sacred religious art:
| Cushion | Subject | Palette | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Rest" (1879) | Mother resting with sleeping infant | Warm ochre, sienna, soft ivory | Nurseries, family rooms, maternal gifts |
| "Sewing" | Young woman at needlework | Golden sienna, ochre, warm neutral | Craft spaces, traditional rooms, sewing enthusiasts |
| "Pietà" (1876) — This | Virgin Mary with Christ after the Crucifixion | Deep umber, ivory, heavenly blue, golden light | Faith-inspired spaces, religious art collections, meaningful gifts |
Product Specs at a Glance
| Artwork | Pietà, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1876 — public domain |
| Artist | William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905), French Academic painter |
| Material | 100% spun polyester — wrinkle-free, shape-retaining |
| 14"×14" — Cover Only | $27.99 |
| 14"×14" — With Insert | $32.99 |
| 16"×16" — Cover Only | $28.99 |
| 16"×16" — With Insert | $33.99 |
| 18"×18" — Cover Only | $29.99 |
| 18"×18" — With Insert | $36.99 |
| 20"×20" — Cover Only | $33.99 |
| 20"×20" — With Insert | $41.99 |
| Insert Material | 100% recycled polyester — 3" larger than cover for extra plushness |
| Zipper | Beige metal-head zipper — subtle and durable |
| Machine Washable | ✅ Cover only (remove insert before washing) |
| Shipping | Cover and insert shipped separately; insert vacuum-packed |
| SKU | D0102HL5RIW |
Frequently Asked Questions
What painting is on this cushion?
Bouguereau's "Pietà" (1876) — an oil painting depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the body of Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion, rendered in Bouguereau's signature hyper-realistic French Academic style. William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905) was the preeminent figure painter of 19th-century French academic art. As a 19th-century work, the Pietà is fully public domain and freely reproduced.
What is a Pietà?
A Pietà — from the Italian for "pity" or "compassion" — is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary holding the body of Jesus Christ following the Crucifixion. It is one of the most frequently depicted subjects in Western religious art history, given its most famous expression in Michelangelo's marble sculpture (c. 1498–1499, Vatican City) and interpreted by many of the greatest artists of every subsequent era.
What sizes and prices are available?
Four sizes: 14"×14" — cover only $27.99, with insert $32.99 · 16"×16" — cover only $28.99, with insert $33.99 · 18"×18" — cover only $29.99, with insert $36.99 · 20"×20" — cover only $33.99, with insert $41.99. Select from the menus above.
Is this an appropriate gift for someone who has experienced loss or bereavement?
The Pietà is one of the most profound expressions of grief in Western art — a visual language of love, loss, and the comfort of faith that has spoken to people across five centuries. For someone who is grieving, particularly within the Christian tradition, a Pietà cushion can be a deeply meaningful and compassionate gift. The 18"×18" with insert at $36.99 is complete and ready to display without any additional purchase required.
Should I choose "with insert" or "without insert"?
Choose "Without Insert" if you already own a cushion insert at home in the matching size. Choose "With Insert" for a complete, ready-to-display cushion — the eco-friendly recycled polyester insert is designed three inches larger than the cover for extra plushness.
How does this compare to the other Bouguereau cushions in the store?
The store carries three Bouguereau cushions: "Rest" (maternal domestic subject, warm ochre palette — suited for nurseries and family rooms), "Sewing" (needlework subject, golden sienna palette — suited for craft spaces), and this "Pietà" (sacred religious subject, deep umber and ivory palette — suited for faith-inspired spaces and devotional collections). All three share the same construction and pricing structure and can be displayed together as a complete Bouguereau collection.
Can this cushion cover be machine washed?
Yes — remove the insert, machine wash the cover, replace. The 100% spun polyester is wrinkle-free, so the cover comes out of the wash looking crisp without ironing. Do not machine wash the insert.
Part of the Pillows & Cushions collection at beddingandcomfort.com · Every Night Deserves a First Class Bed.
