The Death of the Virgin, 1510
Albrecht Dürerexpand_more
Woodcutexpand_more
Gifts of funds in memory of John E. Andrus IIIexpand_more 2013.24
Not on Viewexpand_more
The Death of the Virgin is a meticulously printed pre-publication impression taken from a woodblock prepared for Albrecht Dürer’s elegant illustrated book, "The Life of the Virgin." Twelve apostles attend Mary on her deathbed. Some pray; some read. One holds a censer, another a tall staff topped with a cross. John the Evangelist removes the burning taper from Mary's hand as she peacefully falls still. Peter, wearing a miter symbolic of his new role as leader of the fledgling church, blesses her with an aspergillum which has been charged in the pot of holy water held by his assistant. Light enters the room from the right, adding to the perspectival space and giving the figures full dimension. We are in a sacred place; so, the men have removed their shoes—Dürer gives us a fragmentary view of one discarded piece of footwear shoved beneath the bed. With this woodcut and others of similarly high quality, Dürer fused the intricacy of German art with the structure and airiness then flourishing in Italian art.
Details
- Title
- The Death of the Virgin
- Artist Life
- 1471–1528
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.24
- Provenance
- (Colnaghi, London [C. 26121]). (Christmas gift to "Sylvia," 1964). Private Collection, Cincinnati; Thomas French Fine Art, 2012; sold to MIA, 2013
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Meder 205 Proof before text (b)
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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