Who painted The Virgin Mary in Glory?

The Virgin Mary in Glory was painted by Jan Provoost in 1524-01-01.

Where can I see The Virgin Mary in Glory?

The Virgin Mary in Glory is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is The Virgin Mary in Glory?

The Virgin Mary in Glory is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Virgin Mary in Glory?

Museum-quality prints of The Virgin Mary in Glory are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

The Virgin Mary in Glory by Jan Provoost (1524)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The Virgin Mary in Glory depicts the Virgin Mary surrounded by celestial figures, embodying divine favor and heavenly ascension within a religious context.

The Virgin Mary in Glory depicts the Virgin Mary surrounded by celestial figures, embodying divine favor and heavenly ascension within a religious context. The composition emphasizes her role as intercessor and conduit of grace, symbolized by the radiant light and the positioning of the infant Christ. This iconography aligns with Counter-Reformation themes that highlighted Mary's central position in salvation.

The work is part of the Hermitage Museum's collection in St. Petersburg, where it is displayed as a key example of early 16th-century Netherlandish religious painting.

The painting measures 203 cm in height and 151 cm in width, reflecting the monumental scale typical of devotional works intended for altarpieces. Its creation in 1524 places it within the transitional period of Northern Renaissance art, where naturalistic detail meets emerging Mannerist stylization. The depiction of Mary, Christ Child, and an angel underscores the Holy Family's sacred narrative, reinforcing theological doctrines of the era.

Technique & Style

The painting is an oil on canvas work created in the Netherlands in 1524. It depicts the Virgin Mary in Glory with the Christ Child and an angel. The composition features a central placement of Mary, who is shown holding the infant Jesus, with an angel positioned to her side.

The artwork is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 203 cm in height by 151 cm in width. It belongs to the religious art genre and is housed in the Hermitage Museum.

History & Provenance

The Virgin Mary in Glory is an oil painting on canvas created in 1524 by Jan Provoost. It measures 203 cm in height and 151 cm in width and was produced in the Netherlands. The work entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display as part of the museum's religious art holdings.

Its creation reflects the religious genre prevalent in early 16th‑century European painting, depicting the Virgin Mary surrounded by divine light with the infant Christ and an angelic attendant.

The Virgin Mary in Glory is held by the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. It entered the collection as part of the museum's early acquisitions and is recorded under the inventory number 1858. The work has been displayed in the Hermitage's European Paintings galleries since the mid-20th century, including a 1995 exhibition of Flemish primitives.

The painting was created in the Netherlands in 1524 and measures 203 cm by 151 cm.

Context

The Virgin Mary in Glory by Jan Provoost, painted in 1524 in the Netherlands, depicts the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels and the infant Christ in a celestial composition characteristic of early 16th-century Netherlandish religious painting. Executed in oil on canvas (203 cm by 151 cm), the work is part of the Hermitage Museum's collection in Saint Petersburg, reflecting the movement's emphasis on devotional imagery and intricate spatial arrangement. Scholarship on Provoost's output, including analyses of his role within the broader context of early Netherlandish art, frequently references this painting as an example of transitional stylistic developments toward Mannerism, particularly in its treatment of sacred subjects and use of luminous coloration.

Overview

Created in 1524, The Virgin Mary in Glory is an oil painting by the Flemish artist Jan Provoost. The work presents a celestial scene in which the Virgin Mary holds the infant Christ, surrounded by angels and a gathering of kneeling figures below. It is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection and exemplifies the devotional imagery typical of the Northern Renaissance.