Artwork
The Virgin Crowned by Two Angels above a Landscape
The Virgin Crowned by Two Angels above a Landscape is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
This woodcut shows the Virgin Mary wearing a crown. She floats above a green valley. Two small angels hold her cloak as she looks down.
Dürer made this in 1513. Woodcuts were his favorite way to make prints. They let many people see his art at once.
See how the background fades into soft gray. That trick is called chiaroscuro. It gives depth without color.
Find more prints by Dürer, Albrecht.
Overview
The Virgin Crowned by Two Angels above a Landscape is a woodcut on laid paper created by Albrecht Dürer in 1513, depicting a religious scene with the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and attending angels set against a landscape backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on the Virgin Mary, crowned and floating above a valley, with the Christ Child, while two small angels assist her. Her downward gaze implies a contemplative or benevolent pose, emphasizing devotion and serenity.
Technique & Style
Dürer utilized woodcut, his preferred printmaking method, to mass-produce the image. The composition employs chiaroscuro, with the landscape fading into soft grays to create depth without relying on color, showcasing Dürer's mastery of tonal contrast.
History & Provenance
Created in 1513, this work is part of Dürer's prolific output in woodcuts, a medium chosen for its ability to disseminate his art widely. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Produced during the Northern Renaissance, this woodcut reflects the period's religious themes and the growing accessibility of art through printmaking, allowing Dürer's work to reach a broad audience.
Legacy
As one of Dürer's woodcuts, it contributes to his legacy in popularizing religious imagery through printmaking, influencing the dissemination of artistic and religious themes across Europe during the Renaissance.
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)
