Who painted The Presentation of Christ in the Temple?

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1504.

Where can I see The Presentation of Christ in the Temple?

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Presentation of Christ in the Temple?

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple?

Museum-quality prints of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Albrecht Dürer , 1504

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Albrecht Dürer's 1504 woodcut illustrates the biblical narrative of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, a scene derived directly from the New Testament.

Albrecht Dürer's 1504 woodcut illustrates the biblical narrative of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, a scene derived directly from the New Testament. As part of the artist's Life of the Virgin series, the work depicts the moment the infant Christ is brought to the temple for consecration. The print is classified as religious art within the German Renaissance movement, focusing on the central figure of Jesus Christ.

By translating this scriptural event into a woodcut, Dürer visualizes a key episode from the Gospel accounts, emphasizing the theological significance of the child's presentation within Jewish tradition.

Technique & Style

Created in 1504, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a woodcut print executed by Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg. The work is printed on paper and measures 29.7 cm in height by 21.1 cm in width. As a product of the German Renaissance, the print demonstrates the artist's mastery of line and composition to depict the religious subject of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

The piece is part of Dürer's Life of the Virgin series and is characterized by the fine detail and tonal range typical of his woodcut technique during this period.

History & Provenance

Albrecht Dürer created The Presentation of Christ in the Temple as a woodcut in 1504 in Nuremberg. The print belongs to the Life of the Virgin series and portrays the biblical scene of Jesus' presentation at the Temple. It is held in several major collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Albertina.

The work measures 21.1 cm in width and 29.7 cm in height. Dürer based the image on the New Testament narrative, and it is classified within the German Renaissance movement as religious art.

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., and also held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1504 as a woodcut print. The work has been included in exhibitions at both institutions, highlighting its significance within the German Renaissance and religious art traditions.

Context

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer created in 1504. It depicts the biblical moment of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, reflecting Dürer’s engagement with German Renaissance religious themes and his work within the broader Life of the Virgin series. The print is held in major institutions including the National Gallery of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Albertina, underscoring its significance in both German Renaissance art and the study of printmaking.

Scholarly analysis emphasizes its technical mastery and thematic depth, situating it within Dürer’s wider artistic context and the historical reception of Northern Renaissance religious imagery.

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut, dated around 1504, portrays the biblical episode of the Presentation of Christ in the temple. Executed as a print, the work presents a compact group of figures arranged around the infant Jesus, emphasizing the solemnity of the ritual. The composition is rendered with precise line work, characteristic of Dürer’s meticulous approach to religious subjects.