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

The Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, from The Life of the Virgin is a masterful print created by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer in 1510. This impressive composition belongs to Dürer’s famed series, The Life of the Virgin, a major project that solidified his reputation as a leading printmaker. Executed using the woodcut medium, the work demonstrates Dürer’s technical genius in utilizing the limitations of relief printing to achieve detailed modeling and dramatic contrast.

The piece illustrates the theological culmination of the Virgin Mary's earthly life: her Assumption into Heaven and subsequent crowning by the Holy Trinity. The Virgin is centrally placed, depicted as Queen of Heaven, adorned by Christ and God the Father, and surrounded by adoring cherubs and angels. Dürer’s dynamic handling of the celestial cloud formation and the radiating light establishes a strong sense of divine awe.

Created during the peak of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer's innovative approach to printmaking elevated the woodcut medium from a simple illustrative technique to a major artistic format. The high demand for his works meant that detailed religious subjects, such as the Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, could be widely distributed across Europe, influencing subsequent generations of artists. This specific impression is held within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a key example of the German master's skill. The availability of high-quality impressions ensures that this defining example of Renaissance prints remains available for public and scholarly study.