Jul 25, 2006

The Death of the Virgin

The Death of the Virgin

1470–75

Martin Schongauer

(German, c.1450–1491)

Engraving

Sheet: 25.5 x 16.9 cm (10 1/16 x 6 5/8 in.)

The Fanny Tewksbury King Collection 1956.744

Catalogue raisonné: Lehrs V.106.16

State: II/III

Location

Did you know?

The attentive rendering of the candlestick at the foot of Mary's bed testifies to Schongauer's familiarity with metalworking.

Description

According to the apocryphal Gospel by Pseudo-Matthew, the apostles were present at the Virgin Mary's death. Here, the apostles all gather around Mary's deathbed, as Christ's mother—shown as a young woman due to her immaculate state—is about to draw her last breath. Saint John supports the lighted candle that the Virgin can not longer hold by herself. Other apostles perform the last rites for Mary and look at her with sorrow and concern. This print belongs to a set of four engravings considered to be an incomplete series of episodes of the Life of the Virgin, which also includes The Nativity (1939.448), The Adoration of the Magi (1942.1070), and The Flight into Egypt (1954.260).

See also
Collection: 
PR - Engraving
Department: 
Prints
Type of artwork: 
Print
Medium: 
Engraving

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.