Who painted Death of the Virgin?

Death of the Virgin was painted by Caravaggio in 1603.

Where can I see Death of the Virgin?

Death of the Virgin is held by Department of Paintings of the Louvre.

What movement is Death of the Virgin?

Death of the Virgin is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Death of the Virgin?

Museum-quality prints of Death of the Virgin are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Death of the Virgin

Caravaggio , 1603

Death of the Virgin is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Caravaggio. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the Department of Paintings of the Louvre.

About this work

Overview

Caravaggio’s Death of the Virgin, executed in oil on canvas around 1604–1606, portrays the final moments of Mary, mother of Christ. The work belongs to the Louvre’s collection in Paris and exemplifies the artist’s mature Baroque phase, where narrative drama is conveyed through stark realism and intimate composition.

Subject & Meaning

The scene gathers a small group of mourners around a woman lying on a bed, her body swathed in red garments and a crimson veil. The composition emphasizes human sorrow rather than divine transcendence, inviting viewers to contemplate mortality and the personal grief surrounding the Virgin’s passing.

Technique & Style

Caravaggio employs his characteristic chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with illuminated flesh to heighten the emotional intensity. The figures are rendered with meticulous detail, each posture distinct, and the tactile textures of cloth and skin are convincingly modeled, reinforcing the painting’s naturalistic, almost documentary quality.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 17th century, the canvas entered the French national collection during the 19th century and has been on permanent display at the Musée du Louvre. Its provenance reflects the shifting appreciation of Caravaggio’s work from controversial religious commissions to celebrated museum holdings.

Context

The painting belongs to a period when Caravaggio was redefining religious imagery, moving away from idealized forms toward gritty, humanized depictions. By situating the Virgin’s death within a domestic setting, he aligns the sacred narrative with contemporary experiences of loss, a hallmark of Baroque sensibility.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life.