Artwork
The Virgin with the Child on the Crescent
The Virgin with the Child on the Crescent is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1553 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The date "1553" is written in the corner, and the image is drawn with a sharp, detailed style.
This print shows a woman holding a small child. She’s dressed in flowing robes and wears a crown with a cross on top. The woman’s face is calm, and the child reaches toward her. Below them, a crescent moon floats on the ground, with a tiny town and ships in the distance.
The artist used lines to create light rays around them, making the scene feel holy. The date "1553" is written in the corner, and the image is drawn with a sharp, detailed style.
If you like this, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
Overview
The Virgin with the Child on the Crescent is an etching created by Heinrich Aldegrever in 1553. It is a print that exemplifies the detailed craftsmanship characteristic of small-scale works by Aldegrever and his contemporaries.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child on a crescent moon, a motif common in the religious art of the time. The scene is imbued with a sense of holiness through the use of radiating lines.
Technique & Style
The image is rendered in a sharp, detailed style, with the artist employing lines to convey light and create a sense of reverence. The date '1553' is inscribed in the corner, indicating the work's creation date.
Context
Aldegrever was part of a generation of artists following Albrecht Dürer, and his work reflects the tradition of detailed printmaking established by Dürer.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf (1502–1555, 1558 or 1561) was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
- The Virgin and Child on a Crescent with a Diadem
The Virgin and Child on a Crescent with a Starry Crown
The Virgin and Child on a Crescent with a Sceptre and a Starry Crown
The Virgin on the Crescent
The Virgin and Child on the Crescent
The Virgin on the Crescent
The Virgin and Child on the Crescent
The Virgin and Child on the Crescent
The Virgin and Child on the Crescent
The Virgin and Child on a Crescent
The Virgin and Child on a Crescent