Artwork
The Small Passion: Christ Taking Leave of the Virgin
The Small Passion: Christ Taking Leave of the Virgin is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1960.227
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ehrenfest in memory of William J. Collins
About this work
Overview
The Small Passion: Christ Taking Leave of the Virgin is a print created by Albrecht Dürer around 1510. It is a representative work of the artist's expertise in printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a poignant scene of four figures in a wooded setting, centered around a bearded man, likely Christ, bidding farewell to a kneeling woman, the Virgin Mary. The emotional intensity of the moment is conveyed through the figures' postures and interactions.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed sharp lines and deep shadows to create a dramatic atmosphere, characteristic of his style and common in contemporary religious prints. The use of chiaroscuro enhances the emotional impact of the scene.
History & Provenance
Albrecht Dürer, born in Nuremberg in 1471, was a prominent figure in the German Renaissance. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds this print, which is part of Dürer's extensive body of devotional imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
