Who painted The Crowning of the Virgin?

The Crowning of the Virgin was painted by Martin Johann Schmidt in 1768.

Where can I see The Crowning of the Virgin?

The Crowning of the Virgin is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Crowning of the Virgin?

The Crowning of the Virgin is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Crowning of the Virgin

Martin Johann Schmidt , 1768

The Crowning of the Virgin is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Martin Johann Schmidt. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed as a combined etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a densely populated heavenly scene in which the Virgin Mary receives a crown.

Created in 1768, *The Crowning of the Virgin* is a print made by Martin Johann Schmidt, the Austrian artist often called Kremser Schmidt. Executed as a combined etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a densely populated heavenly scene in which the Virgin Mary receives a crown. The composition is marked by a high level of detail and a clear, linear quality that draws the eye across the multitude of figures.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates the traditional Christian motif of Mary’s coronation, a moment in which the Virgin is honored in heaven by the Trinity and angels. By placing the crowning within an elaborate celestial setting, Schmidt emphasizes the theological significance of Mary’s exalted status and the intercessory role she holds within Catholic devotion.

Technique & Style

Schmidt employed both etching and engraving, allowing him to combine the soft, tonal effects of acid‑etched lines with the crisp, controlled strokes of hand‑cut engraving. The resulting interplay of fine hatching and bold outlines creates a sense of depth and texture. Stylistically, the print reflects the late Baroque and Rococo sensibilities of the period, while also showing the influence of northern Italian composition through its dramatic arrangement of figures.

History & Provenance

Schmidt, a prominent painter and decorator in Lower Austria, produced the print while based in Stein, where he was active in furnishing churches and monasteries. The work was likely intended for devotional use or as a model for larger altar pieces. It has remained in private collections and museum holdings, illustrating the artist’s broader output in religious printmaking during the mid‑18th century.

Context

During the late Baroque era, prints served both as portable images of sacred narratives and as instructional tools for clergy and laity. *The Crowning of the Virgin* fits within this tradition, offering a visual counterpart to liturgical celebrations of Marian feasts. Its intricate line work aligns with contemporary trends that favored elaborate ornamentation and emotional intensity in religious art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Martin Johann Schmidt

Martin Johann Schmidt, called Kremser Schmidt or Kremserschmidt, (25 September 1718 – 28 June 1801), was one of the outstanding Austrian painters of the late Baroque/Rococo along with Franz Anton Maulbertsch.