Who painted The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple?

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1502.

Where can I see The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple?

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple?

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple

Albrecht Dürer , 1502

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut entitled *The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple* dates from around 1502. Executed as a single‑sheet print, it portrays the biblical episode in which the infant Mary is brought before the temple. The composition is rendered in fine linear detail, characteristic of Dürer’s early religious works.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates the apocryphal narrative of Mary’s dedication to the temple, a theme that underscores her purity and future role in Christian salvation history. By focusing on the moment of presentation, the work invites contemplation of devotion and the formative stages of the Virgin’s spiritual life.

Technique & Style

Created with a copper‑engraved woodblock, the print relies on intricate incised lines to model figures, architecture, and ornamental elements. Dürer’s precise hatching produces a sense of depth and texture, while the balanced arrangement of figures reflects his interest in proportion and the emerging Northern Renaissance aesthetic.

History & Provenance

The woodcut was produced during Dürer’s early mature period, shortly after his travels to Italy, when he was integrating Northern detail with Italian compositional principles. Original impressions circulated among devotional prints in the early sixteenth century; later copies entered museum collections, documenting the work’s continued scholarly interest.