The Holy Family with Five Angels

The Holy Family with Five Angels is a significant woodcut created by the German master Albrecht Dürer between 1503 and 1504. This early 16th-century print, a quintessential depiction of the Holy Family, showcases Dürer’s technical genius in utilizing the challenging woodcut medium to achieve remarkable detail and tonal variation. The work, dating to the height of the German Renaissance, is currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The composition centers on the intimate moment shared by the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the Christ Child. The young Christ sits in the Virgin’s lap, receiving attention from the surrounding figures. The scene is elevated and sanctified by the presence of five Angels who hover above or attend to the figures, reinforcing the devotional nature of the image. Dürer structures the composition with a tight focus, using meticulous cross-hatching to define form and depth. His profound understanding of line and shadow creates a sense of light and texture rarely seen in other contemporary prints.

Dürer was instrumental in elevating printmaking from a utilitarian craft to a recognized high art form, making images like this accessible to a wide audience. This piece exemplifies the Renaissance humanist approach to devotional imagery, treating the sacred subjects with both reverence and naturalism. As a pivotal example of Northern European graphic arts, The Holy Family with Five Angels demonstrates the important role of graphic prints in spreading religious iconography during this period. This masterwork by Dürer remains a vital reference point for students of art history, with high-quality impressions often digitized and available through public domain initiatives.