The Death of the Virgin, after 1470
Engraving
Sheet dimensions25 × 16,7 cm
About the workLying on her deathbed, Mary, mother of Jesus, is surrounded by twelve men. They are the apostles, who were commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the gospel of Christianity. Light falls evenly on the dying woman’s face and illuminates the elaborately arranged coverings on the bed. With this detailed depiction of the scene, Martin Schongauer, who was also a painter, brought about the first heyday of the recently invented technique of copperplate engraving. He confidently signed the work with his monogram at the bottom of the image.
AccessionCollection of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Provenance[…]; seit 1932 Dauerleihgabe der Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Inventory numberKA (FP) 1613 D
