The Death of the Virgin

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - The Death of the Virgin
The apocryphal theme of the death of the Virgin, who summons the Apostles to her deathbed after the angel announces her impending death, is rendered with great artistic freedom and buoyant freshness. The artist melded the inspiration he drew from the work of other masters - namely, Albrecht Dürer’s like-themed woodcut and stained-glass windows in the Oude Kerke church in Amsterdam - into an energetic and visually unique statement of his own. The drypoint technique enhances the depth of the dark shadows, which stand in stark contrast to the light clouds with the lightly-sketched figure of the angel. Moreover, the light serves also a symbolic function. This print is one of Rembrandt’s very best works.
date:
measurements: height 394 mm
width 311 mm
in collections:
material: paper
technique: etching and dry point, third state
inscription:
inventory number: R 179578
gallery collection: Collection of Prints and Drawings