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The Birth of the Virgin

Maker

(artist)
1471-1528

(engraver)
1471-1528

Title

Date of Production

1500

Medium

medium : material : ink & support : material : paper
laid

Dimensions

Height: 30.1 cm
Width: 21.3 cm

Accession Number

G.1990.WL.3016

Mode of Acquisition

Witt Library, transfer, 1990

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, lies exhausted on the bed in a distinctly northern setting, attended by midwives offering her food and drink. The Virgin, having just been bathed, is cradled by another of the midwives, whilst an angel, unseen by those below, welcomes the birth with incense. The birth of the Virgin is not mentioned in scripture, but instead stems from apocryphal texts. Though the cutting of the woodblock is of extremely high quality, the impression indicates that the plate has either been unevenly inked or the block was worn at the time of printing. This and the brightness of the paper suggests a late publication date.

Provenance

Information not yet known or updated

Exhibition History

Print Room Display - Durer Prints, The Courtauld Gallery (Prints and Drawings Study Room), 29/10/2013-23/06/2014

Inscriptions

Inscription: inscription : printed : within image & lower : : AD [monogram] //

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