Madonna and Child [obverse]

Madonna and Child [obverse] by Albrecht Dürer is an important oil on panel painting created between 1496 and 1499. This German masterpiece reflects the profound cultural and artistic shifts occurring in the period spanning 1401 to 1500, marking the transition from Late Gothic sensibilities toward the emerging ideals of the Northern Renaissance. Dürer’s early mastery of oil painting is evident in this work, which is now a celebrated piece within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The composition focuses intimately on the Virgin Mary cradling the Christ Child. Dürer, who was perhaps even more renowned during his lifetime for his meticulous and highly influential prints and engravings, applied a comparable level of precision and detail to the painted panel. The use of oil paint allowed for careful modeling of the figures, resulting in rich, luminous flesh tones and complex rendering of the drapery folds. The painting demonstrates the artist’s engagement with Italian compositional concepts regarding proportion and form, even while retaining the characteristic linear clarity and detailed realism of the German tradition.

The piece is crucial for understanding how Renaissance artistic theories disseminated across Europe north of the Alps at the close of the 15th century. This specific portrayal of the Madonna and Child became an iconic image, influencing subsequent generations of religious painting. Because this historical painting resides in the public domain, high-quality digital reproductions and prints are widely accessible, facilitating scholarship and appreciation of Dürer’s technical genius. The enduring appeal of this work solidifies its place as a cornerstone example of German painting from the period 1401 to 1500.