Madonna on a Grassy Bank

"Madonna on a Grassy Bank" is a compelling sixteenth-century engraving created in Germany in 1566, attributed to an anonymous artist working after the famed designs of Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528). Executed on ivory laid paper, this print exemplifies the enduring influence of the great German Renaissance master decades after his death. The work showcases the technical precision required for engraving, allowing the subsequent artist to translate Dürer's original graphic vision into a fine-lined, detailed composition.

The subject, the Virgin and Child resting in a tranquil natural setting, was a favored religious motif. This reproduction speaks to the extensive market for Dürer’s compositions across Germany and central Europe, where the master's devotional imagery was highly sought after. Unlike unique paintings, prints allowed for the widespread circulation of sacred iconography, making works like Madonna on a Grassy Bank accessible to a broader audience. The artist responsible for this 1566 piece carefully replicated the delicate modeling and detailed background elements characteristic of Dürer's style, ensuring the composition retained its authoritative appearance.

The status of this work as a Print confirms its historical role in the reproductive history of the late Renaissance. Works associated with the school of Dürer, particularly influential early prints, are often analyzed today as key examples of how religious imagery disseminated and entered the public domain. This significant example of German graphic art is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing important insight into the sustained legacy of one of Europe's most pivotal artists.