Artwork

The Assumption of the Virgin

The Assumption of the Virgin, by Netherlandish 17th Century, ink, 1601
The Assumption of the Virgin, by Netherlandish 17th Century, ink, 1601

The Assumption of the Virgin is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Netherlandish 17th Century. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work titled “The Assumption of the Virgin” is a drawing executed on laid paper. The artist employed pen and brown ink, enhanced with brown and gray washes applied over an initial black chalk sketch. The composition is rendered in a monochromatic palette, emphasizing line and tonal variation rather than color.

Technique & Style

The piece combines several drawing media: a foundation of black chalk outlines, over which pen and brown ink define the forms, and subsequent washes of brown and gray create depth and atmospheric shading. The use of laid paper, with its characteristic ribbed texture, contributes to the work’s tactile quality and supports the subtle gradations achieved through the washes.

Subject & Meaning

Depicting the Assumption of the Virgin, the drawing illustrates the theological moment when Mary is taken up into heaven. The composition likely follows traditional iconography, presenting the figure in a vertical ascent, surrounded by attendant angels or clouds, to convey the spiritual elevation and divine acceptance central to the narrative.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Netherlandish 17th Century

Artist

Netherlandish 17th Century

This artist was born in the Netherlands in the early 1600s and made drawings and engravings.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.