Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, from The Life of the Virgin

Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, from The Life of the Virgin is a masterful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528) in 1510. This impressive work forms the final panel of the artist’s influential Life of the Virgin series, a seminal body of work that redefined the scope and technical complexity of printmaking during the Northern Renaissance. Executed in black ink on ivory laid paper, the piece exemplifies Dürer’s ability to imbue the traditionally rougher woodcut medium with the fine detail and expressive range typically associated with engraving.

The print illustrates the dual subject of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent into heaven (Assumption) and her subsequent elevation to Queen of Heaven (Coronation). Dürer divides the composition into two distinct realms. In the foreground, the Apostles are gathered in pious awe around the empty tomb, their expressive grief marking the transition between the earthly and divine. In the celestial sphere above, Mary kneels before the Holy Trinity, as Christ and God the Father place the crown upon her head, enveloped by a host of joyful angels and cherubim.

Created during the height of the printmaking boom in Germany, this woodcut series was crucial in establishing Dürer’s international reputation. The precision of the line work, coupled with the dramatic handling of light and shadow, demonstrates the technical skill that allowed Dürer to produce prints that were highly sought after by collectors across Europe. The work documents a pivotal moment in the history of religious iconography and German art, representing the era’s demand for accessible sacred imagery. This outstanding example of Dürer’s graphic output is preserved in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing a key reference point for scholars studying 16th-century prints and works related to the public domain.