Who painted The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne?

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne was painted by Albrecht Dürer in c. 1500.

Where can I see The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne?

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is held by British Museum.

What movement is The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne?

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne?

Museum-quality prints of The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Albrecht Dürer (c. 1500)

Inscription: Inscribed:in plate, bottom left: AD [artist's monogram]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: 55 [sideways]; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: B29-; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: 29 [upside down]; verso, bottom center, in graphite by a later hand: (HH1162) [?]

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The triangular arrangement of figures conveys both intimacy and spiritual connection, reflecting the Holy Kinship theme common in German Renaissance art.

The print shows the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus while Saint Anne stands beside them, a composition that emphasizes the lineage of Christ through Mary and her mother Anne. The triangular arrangement of figures conveys both intimacy and spiritual connection, reflecting the Holy Kinship theme common in German Renaissance art. The work illustrates the sacred relationship between mother, child, and grandmother within Christian iconography, symbolizing nurturing, guidance, and divine ancestry.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1500, this work is an engraving printed on laid paper. The composition features the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint Anne, rendered with the precise line work characteristic of Albrecht Dürer's graphic output during the German Renaissance. The sheet measures 11.5 cm in height and 7 cm in width.

As a print, the image exists in multiple impressions held across major international collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where a specific example entered the museum via the Rosenwald Collection.

History & Provenance

Albrecht Dürer created this engraving in 1500. It entered the collection of Lessing J. Rosenwald in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in 1928. Rosenwald later gifted the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1943. The piece is part of the Rosenwald Collection and is housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.. It entered the collection in 1943 as a gift from Lessing J. Rosenwald of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, who had purchased the engraving in 1928; his collector's stamps (Lugt 1760b and Lugt 1932d) appear on the sheet. The print forms part of the Rosenwald Collection within the Gallery's prints holdings.

According to Wikidata, impressions of the engraving are also located at the Chester Beatty Library and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, and additional impressions are recorded in the collections of the Graphische Sammlung der ETH Zürich, the Albertina, the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Rijksmuseum. No exhibition history is documented in the provided sources.

Context

The engraving entered the Rosenwald Collection in 1928 and was later gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1943, establishing a documented provenance that links the work to major American holdings. Scholars have highlighted its significance within the German Renaissance as a technical achievement that combines intricate line work with a deeply devotional composition, reflecting Albrecht Dürer’s mastery of printmaking and his engagement with theological themes. The piece is frequently cited in studies of Dürer’s iconographic innovation and his influence on subsequent printmakers, underscoring its enduring scholarly interest.

Overview

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is a religious engraving by Albrecht Dürer, dating to around 1500. It features three central figures in a serene composition.

Legacy

While specific legacy details are not provided, the engraving's meticulous technique and serene composition contribute to Dürer's reputation as a master printmaker of his era.