The Holy Family with Five Angels

The Holy Family with Five Angels is a masterful print created by Albrecht Dürer in 1505. Executed as a woodcut on laid paper, this piece exemplifies the high quality and technical innovation of German prints during the early Renaissance period (1501 to 1550). Dürer, already established as the preeminent graphic artist of his era, produced this devotional image shortly after his return from Italy, combining Northern precision with burgeoning classical ideals.

The technical brilliance of the work lies in Dürer’s sophisticated use of line and shading, pushing the boundaries of what was traditionally achievable in the challenging woodcut medium. The composition centers on the figures of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child, surrounded intimately by the five attendant angels. Two angels attend to the Christ Child in the foreground, while others are incorporated into the architectural background, suggesting a celestial presence in the humble scene.

Unlike earlier, simpler graphic works, Dürer employs intricate cross-hatching to define volume and light, giving the print a remarkable sense of depth and textural detail that rivals painting. The delicate rendering of the drapery and the serene expressions of the figures underscore the religious intensity typical of the German artistic culture of the time. This piece is significant because it illustrates Dürer’s shift toward complex, multi-figured compositions within his graphic production, successfully conveying monumental forms despite the relatively small format.

This particular impression of the Holy Family with Five Angels showcases Dürer’s enduring influence on printmaking across Europe. His ability to disseminate high-quality devotional imagery through accessible prints solidified his international reputation. As a cornerstone example of early 16th-century printmaking, the work is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this German masterwork are often available for study and reference in the public domain.