Artwork
Rosenkranzfest
Rosenkranzfest is an oil painting. It dates from 1609 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, who are shown distributing rosaries to a gathering of devotees.
Created in 1609 as a religious work based on a composition by Albrecht Dürer, this painting depicts the Feast of the Rosary. The iconography centers on the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, who are shown distributing rosaries to a gathering of devotees. The assembled figures include prominent historical and contemporary personalities such as Pope Julius II, Emperor Maximilian I, and the humanist Willibald Pirckheimer, alongside a self-portrait of Dürer himself.
This arrangement symbolizes the spiritual unity of the Church and the Holy Roman Empire under the protection of the Virgin, highlighting the significance of the Rosary confraternity.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium typical of early modern religious commissions. Its dimensions are 160 cm in height and 193 cm in width. Stylistically, it belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition, evident in the careful rendering of figures and detailed drapery.
The composition integrates multiple identifiable portraits within a devotional scene, aligning with Counter-Reformation iconography that sought to blend personal piety with public representation. The handling emphasizes clarity and linearity, with precise modeling of faces and hands, while the overall tonality favors muted, earthen hues that focus attention on the central ritual of rosary veneration.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Rosenkranzfest was created in 1609 using oil paint on canvas. It is classified as a work of religious art depicting figures including Mary, Jesus Christ, Pope Julius II, Emperor Maximilian I, Willibald Pirckheimer, and Albrecht Dürer. The work is described as a painting after Albrecht Dürer.
It is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The dimensions of the canvas are 160 cm in height and 193 cm in width.
Rosenkranzfest is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains part of the museum's holdings. The work is catalogued as a painting after Albrecht Dürer, executed in oil on canvas and dated 1609.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its presence in the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection is documented.
Overview
Rosenkranzfest is an oil painting that captures a large assembly of figures within a lush landscape. The artwork is characterized by its vivid palette and intricate composition, conveying a strong sense of spiritual reverence. At its heart, a central group draws the viewer's attention, surrounded by a diverse congregation set against a backdrop of trees and distant mountains. The painting's detailed execution reflects a significant level of artistic proficiency.
Artist & collection
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