Who painted Mary's Passage Across the Mountains?

Mary's Passage Across the Mountains was painted by Joseph von Führich in 1841.

Where can I see Mary's Passage Across the Mountains?

Mary's Passage Across the Mountains is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Artwork

Mary's Passage Across the Mountains

Mary's Passage Across the Mountains is an oil painting by Joseph von Führich. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1841, *Mary’s Passage Across the Mountains* is an oil painting by Austrian artist Joseph von Führich, a figure linked to the early 19th‑century Nazarene circle. The work belongs to the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and exemplifies Führich’s focus on biblical narratives rendered with meticulous draftsmanship.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas presents the Virgin Mary traversing a rugged alpine setting, clothed in a blue mantle over red garments and carrying a staff. She is accompanied by a retinue of angels—one cradling an infant, another soaring above with a pink veil—suggesting celestial escort and protection during her journey.

Technique & Style

Führich employs a restrained palette of blues, reds, and soft pinks, arranging figures to lead the eye toward Mary while using atmospheric perspective to convey depth in the mountainous background. The careful delineation of forms and the calm, harmonious composition reflect the Nazarenes’ revival of early Renaissance clarity and devotional tone.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on view. Its acquisition aligns with the museum’s 19th‑century effort to assemble representative works of Austrian religious art, preserving Führich’s contribution to the period’s devotional visual culture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Joseph von Führich

Joseph von Führich (fully Josef Ritter von Führich) (9 February 1800 – 13 March 1876) was an Austrian painter, one of the Nazarenes. He painted religious pictures almost exclusively. Führich acquired his greatest fame as a draughtsman.

Museum

Kunsthistorisches Museum

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