Assumption of the Virgin is a 1650 oil by Guercino, held at Detroit Institute of Arts.
This painting depicts the Virgin Mary ascending to heaven, surrounded by angels. She wears a red dress with a blue cloak, and her feet are bare. The angels are dressed in various colors and have wings. One angel is holding a cloth, while another is playing a musical instrument. The scene is set against a backdrop of clouds and a blue sky. The overall mood is one of serenity and joy, as the Virgin Mary is being lifted up to heaven by the angels. The painting is done in oil paint, which gives it a rich and vibrant color. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark, adds depth and dimension to the painting. The artist, Guercino, was a master of this technique, and it is evident in this painting. To learn more about Guercino's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
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