1574
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Death of the Virgin is a 1574 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a woman lying in bed, surrounded by people. Some kneel, others stand or reach toward her. A table in the middle holds food and cups. Skeletons peek out from under the bed and around the room. The walls are dark, with a window letting in dim light. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and textures, making everything look detailed. This style is called cross-hatching. Look up technique: engraving to see how artists like this create depth with lines.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
See the richer artist page
