The Glorification of the Virgin

The Glorification of the Virgin is a masterful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1504. This piece exemplifies the technical sophistication achieved in German printmaking during the period spanning 1501 to 1550. Dürer, a towering figure of the Northern Renaissance, elevated the status of the print medium from mere illustration to independent high art, making his works influential across theological and artistic circles.

The composition focuses on the religious subject of Mary’s reception into heaven, showing the Virgin crowned and elevated by celestial figures, thereby emphasizing her divine status and purity. As a woodcut, the piece required the meticulous carving of a block of wood to leave the lines of the design standing in relief. Despite the inherent limitations of the medium, Dürer achieved remarkable precision and rich tonal variation in the shading and drapery, features often more associated with copperplate engraving than with traditional woodblock printing. This technical innovation helped cement the artist’s reputation throughout Europe.

The wide circulation of these detailed prints ensured Dürer’s visual interpretations of sacred subjects quickly became canonical models for artists across the continent. This work, alongside his other major print series, demonstrates the commercial and artistic power of printmaking in the early sixteenth century. The enduring legacy of the German master means high-resolution prints of this historical subject are often found in the public domain, making the intricate details accessible for study by scholars and enthusiasts alike. This outstanding example of early sixteenth-century printmaking is held within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art.