Who painted The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin was painted by Rembrandt in 1639.

Where can I see The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Death of the Virgin?

The Death of the Virgin is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Death of the Virgin

Rembrandt , 1639

The Death of the Virgin is a print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Rembrandt’s 1639 print titled The Death of the Virgin is part of the artist’s late‑career output and is presently in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a nocturnal interior scene in which a group of mourners surrounds a bed, their gestures and expressions rendered with swift, gestural lines.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts the moment of the Virgin Mary’s passing, a theme common in 17th‑century devotional art. Figures are shown in various states of grief—some kneeling, others with raised hands—while ethereal angels hover above, suggesting a transition from earthly sorrow to heavenly consolation.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employs chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with sharply illuminated forms to heighten drama. The print’s line work is loose and energetic; faces and hands are suggested rather than fully detailed, giving the scene a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity.

History & Provenance

Created in 1639, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century, though earlier ownership records are sparse. Its presence in a major American collection reflects the broad appreciation of Rembrandt’s graphic oeuvre beyond his paintings.

Context

During the 1630s Rembrandt explored biblical narratives through both painting and printmaking, often focusing on intimate, human moments. The Death of the Virgin aligns with his interest in rendering spiritual subjects within domestic, candlelit settings, a hallmark of Dutch Baroque sensibility.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.