Christ Taking Leave of His Mother

1504

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Christ Taking Leave of His Mother is a 1504 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1504 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows Mary kneeling, asking Jesus to stay. She's sad because he's leaving for Jerusalem. The scene is emotional, and Mary's feelings are clear. The artist used simple lines to show Mary's sadness. This makes the scene feel more personal and quiet. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528).

The story of this work

Overview

These two woodcuts (1959.99.16-17) feature events that overlap in both Mary’s and Jesus’s lives. The first is a scene in which Mary finds Jesus, after days of searching, speaking from behind a lectern to the temple’s elders. The second refers to the the moment Mary was forced to say goodbye to her son as he leaves for Jerusalem and ultimately on to the events of his Passion. This print represents the most sorrowful episode of the series as Mary kneels, beseeching Jesus to stay.

Read the full account in the museum source.