The day Michelangelo's Pietà was vandalised in a hammer attack 21 May, 2021 Notorious attack on Michelangelo's Pietà occurred on 21 May 1972. 49 years ago today, a crazed Hungarian called Laszlo Toth climbed over an altar rail in St Peter’s Basilica and attacked Michelangelo’s Pietà with a geologist's hammer, while screaming: “I am Jesus Christ – risen from the dead.” The Renaissance masterpiece, which portrays the Madonna holding the dead body of Jesus after he was taken down from the cross, suffered extensive damage from Toth's approximately 15 hammer blows. Toth was apprehended by bystanders The attack, which took place in front of horrified pilgrims, saw Toth knock the Madonna's left arm at the elbow, chipping off her eyelid and a significant part of her nose.