The Transportation of the Holy House of Loreto

The image illustrates the legendary relocation of the Holy House, the shrine traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary. The angels serve as divine agents guiding the structure, and the celestial presence of Mary underscores the sanctity of the event. The inclusion of a clock and urban setting situates the miracle within a recognizable, contemporary landscape.

Executed as a woodcut, the print was later hand‑colored, with the green and orange tones possibly applied through stenciling to achieve uniform washes. The combination of line work typical of Renaissance printmaking and vivid pigments creates a detailed yet lively visual narrative, characteristic of late‑15th‑century devotional prints.

The piece belongs to the Renaissance period, when woodcut printing flourished across Europe. Though the specific artist is not recorded, such prints were commonly produced for pilgrimage promotion and circulated among the faithful. Surviving examples are found in several museum collections, indicating a wide distribution in the early modern era.

The Holy House of Loreto was reputedly moved from the Holy Land to Italy in the 13th century, a story that inspired numerous visual representations. This woodcut reflects the era’s interest in miraculous narratives and the use of print media to disseminate religious propaganda to a broad audience.