Who painted The Adoration of the Lamb?

The Adoration of the Lamb was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1497.

Where can I see The Adoration of the Lamb?

The Adoration of the Lamb is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Adoration of the Lamb?

The Adoration of the Lamb is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Adoration of the Lamb?

Museum-quality prints of The Adoration of the Lamb are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Adoration of the Lamb

Albrecht Dürer , 1497

The Adoration of the Lamb is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As part of Dürer's Apocalypse series, the print illustrates the heavenly adoration of the sacrificial Lamb, a core motif of Christian eschatology.

Albrecht Dürer's 1496 woodcut depicts the Lamb of God as the central figure, surrounded by John the Evangelist and other worshippers. The work serves as a visual interpretation of specific passages from the Book of Revelation, drawing directly from chapters 7 and 14. As part of Dürer's Apocalypse series, the print illustrates the heavenly adoration of the sacrificial Lamb, a core motif of Christian eschatology.

The composition focuses on the religious significance of the Lamb receiving homage, embodying themes of redemption and divine judgment found in the biblical text.

History & Provenance

The print titled The Adoration of the Lamb was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1496 as a woodcut religious work within the Apocalypse series. It portrays the Lamb of God alongside John the Evangelist, drawing its subject from Revelation 7 and Revelation 14. The work measures 39.5 cm in height and 28.5 cm in width and was produced on laid paper.

Over its history it has been held in several institutional collections including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, and the Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden, among others.

The work is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and also appears in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its inventory or accession numbers are not specified in the available sources. Exhibition history is not documented in the provided material.

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut entitled The Adoration of the Lamb dates from around 1497. Executed as a single‑sheet print, it forms part of a larger devotional volume. The image centers on a lamb placed upon an altar, surrounded by a gathering of figures, with the evangelist John positioned in a kneeling posture nearby.

Technique & Style

Dürer employed the woodcut process, carving intricate, fine lines into a wood block to create subtle gradations of light and shade. The delicate hatching builds volume and texture, allowing the inked surface to convey depth despite the medium’s inherent starkness. This meticulous line work exemplifies Dürer’s mastery of printmaking.