Artwork
La Présentation de Marie au Temple
La Présentation de Marie au Temple is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lavinia Fontana. It dates from 1575 and is held in the collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1575 by Lavinia Fontana, an Italian painter active in the late Renaissance, this oil work portrays the biblical episode of the Presentation of Mary at the temple. Executed in the Mannerist style, the canvas is part of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in a white robe and blue mantle ascending a staircase, symbolising Mary’s entry into the sacred space. She is accompanied by figures in vivid garments, a man in yellow and a woman with a red headscarf, suggesting the ceremonial nature of the rite.
Technique & Style
Fontana employs pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated forms against deep shadows to model volume. The palette balances warm yellows with cool blues, creating visual tension typical of Mannerist experimentation with color and movement.
History & Provenance
Lavinia Fontana, trained by her father Prospero, was among the first women in Western Europe to sustain a professional artistic career. The painting entered the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts through acquisition, adding to the institution’s representation of Italian Mannerism.
Context
While Fontana is chiefly known for portraiture, she also produced religious narratives and occasional mythological scenes. This work reflects the Counter‑Reformation’s demand for devotional imagery, rendered through a sophisticated, courtly aesthetic.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lavinia Fontana (24 August 1552 – 11 August 1614) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome.
- The Martyrdom and Last Communion of Saint Lucy
La Presentación de la Virgen en el Templo
Jesús niño en la puerta del Templo
The Betrothal of the Virgin
Marienaltar: Tempelgang Mariae
Annunciation
Mystic marriage of Saint Catherine
Visitation (Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth in the Presence of Saints Joseph and Jerome)
The Annunciation
Raising the Young Man of Nain
The Annunciation
Cyriakus-Folge: Der hl. Cyriakus tauft Arthemia