Madonna with Skull
1537
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Barthel Beham
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page1537
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Madonna with Skull is a 1537 ink by Barthel Beham, depicting Breastfeeding, held at National Gallery of Art.
The painting shows a woman, possibly Mary, holding a skull. She's dressed in simple clothes. The skull is a symbol of death, which is an unusual thing to see in a portrait of a woman like this. The woman's face is calm, and her eyes are cast down. This makes the scene feel quiet and thoughtful. The skull adds a sense of sadness to the picture. The artist used simple lines and shading to create this image. Check out the technique of engraving to learn more about how it was made.
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page
