Who painted The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin was painted by François Boucher in 1754.

Where can I see The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Death of the Virgin

François Boucher , 1754

The Death of the Virgin is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist François Boucher. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

François Boucher’s drawing *The Death of the Virgin* dates to roughly 1754. Executed on cream‑coloured laid paper, the work combines pen and brown ink with a brown wash applied over an initial red‑chalk sketch. The piece measures a modest size typical of preparatory studies and exemplifies Boucher’s facility with drawing as a means of exploring narrative subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts the final moments of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by attendants and domestic furnishings. The figures are arranged to convey a quiet, contemplative atmosphere, emphasizing the solemnity of the event rather than dramatic action. The scene reflects the 18th‑century interest in religious subjects rendered with a gentle, humanizing touch.

Technique & Style

Over the red‑chalk underdrawing, brown ink defines the main contours, while a translucent brown wash adds tonal depth.

Boucher employs a restrained line work, using simple, flowing curves to outline forms. Over the red‑chalk underdrawing, brown ink defines the main contours, while a translucent brown wash adds tonal depth. Careful rendering of drapery folds and surface textures—such as wood grain on nearby furniture—demonstrates the artist’s attention to material detail within a Rococo aesthetic of elegance and softness.

History & Provenance

Created during Boucher’s mature period, the drawing likely served as a study for a larger painted composition or as an independent devotional image. Its provenance traces back to private collections in France before entering a museum holding in the early 20th century, where it has been catalogued as a representative example of Boucher’s draughtsmanship.