Artwork
The Holy Family with Five Angels
The Holy Family with Five Angels is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s 1505 woodcut, titled The Holy Family with Five Angels, presents a devotional scene in stark monochrome. A serene mother cradles an infant, while five winged figures hover nearby, some bearing musical instruments. The composition is set against a backdrop of clouds and foliage, creating a layered visual narrative typical of early 16th‑century religious prints.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures represent the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, embodying the intimate bond of the Holy Family. The surrounding angels, rendered with expressive faces and flowing hair, serve as celestial attendants, emphasizing the sanctity of the scene and reinforcing contemporary devotional practices that linked earthly family life with divine protection.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut on laid paper, Dürer incised the image into a wooden block, allowing ink to transfer the intricate lines onto the sheet. The print displays crisp, precise contours, especially in the folds of clothing and the delicate feathering of the angels’ wings, showcasing Dürer’s mastery of line and his ability to convey texture without color.
Context
Created during the height of the Northern Renaissance, the work reflects both the period’s religious fervor and the growing demand for reproducible devotional images. Woodcuts like this were widely circulated, enabling broader access to sacred iconography beyond the confines of illuminated manuscripts and painted altarpieces.
Legacy
The Holy Family with Five Angels exemplifies Dürer’s contribution to printmaking, influencing subsequent generations of artists who adopted his meticulous approach to line work. Its composition and technical execution continue to inform studies of early modern religious art and the dissemination of visual culture across Europe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
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