The artwork titled “The Virgin with the Infant Christ and St. Anne” is an engraving by Albrecht Dürer, dated to 1501. This piece exemplifies the Northern Renaissance art movement, characterized by its attention to detail and emphasis on Christian subject matter. Although the medium is engraving, it is often categorized under religious painting due to its subject and composition. The artwork, being part of a private collection, is an exemplar of Dürer’s intricate style and his contribution to religious art of his time.
In the image, the scene depicted is intensely religious, showing the Virgin Mary seated with the Christ Child in her arms, while St. Anne, Mary’s mother, watches tenderly over them. The figures are arranged in a close, intimate grouping, with St. Anne slightly behind and looking over Mary’s shoulder at the Child. Their robes are rendered with exquisite detail, showcasing Dürer’s skill with the engraving tool to suggest texture and form. In the background, there is a small, radiant depiction of a city, possibly representing the heavenly Jerusalem, above which a burst of divine light emanates, suggesting the holy nature of the scene. Furthermore, Dürer’s monogram, “AD,” can be seen near the bottom of the composition, confirming the piece as one of his creations. The finely executed lines and contrasts display the capability of engraving to capture complexity and narrative, hallmarks of Dürer’s contribution to Northern Renaissance art.
