Who painted The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels?

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1500.

Where can I see The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels?

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels?

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels

Albrecht Dürer , 1500

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child with Four Angels is a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, created around 1500. It is a print on wood, depicting a scene from Christian iconography.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut shows the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus, surrounded by four angels. Two of the angels hold a crown above Mary's head, signifying her importance.

Technique & Style

The print features soft lines that create delicate folds in the figures' robes, achieved through Dürer's skillful use of the woodcut technique. The angels are rendered in a childlike manner, blurring the distinction between heavenly and human.

Context

This work was produced during the German Renaissance, a period when woodcuts allowed artists like Dürer to make their work more accessible to a broader audience beyond the wealthy elite.