Who painted The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel?

The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1520.

Where can I see The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel?

The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel?

The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel

Albrecht Dürer , 1520

The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s engraving titled *The Virgin and Child Crowned by One Angel* dates from 1520. Executed on laid paper, the work presents a compact composition in which the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ are positioned beneath a single angelic figure. The piece exemplifies Dürer’s mature printmaking, combining devotional subject matter with a refined, intimate scale.

Subject & Meaning

The image centers on the theological motif of the Virgin and Child, a staple of Renaissance devotion, while the angel above bestows a symbolic coronation. This gesture underscores the sanctity of the duo and reflects contemporary notions of divine intercession, presenting a serene, reverent scene intended for personal contemplation.

Technique & Style

Created through copper engraving, Dürer employed fine incised lines to render delicate textures and intricate details, a hallmark of his print practice. The precision of the hatching conveys subtle modeling of flesh, fabric, and the angel’s wings, while the shallow depth of field emphasizes the central figures against a restrained background.

History & Provenance

The print emerges from Dürer’s prolific period of small-scale religious engravings, produced for a market of collectors and devotional users. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work aligns with Dürer’s broader output of portable prints that circulated widely across Europe in the early sixteenth century.