Artwork
Third Foolish Virgin
Third Foolish Virgin is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1490, Third Foolish Virgin is an engraving by the Alsatian artist Martin Schongauer. The print presents a solitary female figure on a grassy rise, holding a lamp and touching her face, her long curls and elegant dress suggesting refinement. Schongauer’s work exemplifies the high level of technical skill achieved in Northern European printmaking before the rise of Albrecht Dürer.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is traditionally linked to the motif of the foolish virgin, a moral allegory drawn from biblical parables that warns against spiritual negligence. The lamp she bears may symbolize illumination or guidance, while the wreath at her feet hints at a lost or abandoned virtue, reinforcing the cautionary narrative.
Technique & Style
Schongauer employs fine cross‑hatching to model form and create a convincing sense of depth. The engraving’s delicate lines render the texture of the dress, hair, and surrounding foliage, while subtle tonal gradations give the figure a palpable volume. The precision of the line work reflects the artist’s mastery of the medium.
History & Provenance
Martin Schongauer (c.1448‑1491) was the foremost German engraver of his generation, producing a substantial corpus of prints that circulated widely across Europe. Third Foolish Virgin belongs to his later period, when his reputation as a painter and printmaker was firmly established. The print has been documented in several historic collections, confirming its early dissemination.
Context
The engraving emerges from the late Gothic to early Renaissance transition in the Upper Rhine region, where artists combined intricate decorative detail with emerging naturalism. Schongauer’s work reflects the growing interest in moralizing subjects and the use of print media to spread didactic imagery beyond the confines of illuminated manuscripts.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer (c. 1450–1453, Colmar – 2 February 1491, Breisach), also known as Martin Schön ("Martin beautiful") or Hübsch Martin ("pretty Martin") by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter. He…
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