The Virgin and Child Crowned by Two Angels above a Landscape

The Virgin and Child Crowned by Two Angels above a Landscape by Albrecht Dürer is a masterful woodcut dating from 1504. Classified as a relief print, this work exemplifies Dürer’s revolutionary approach to printmaking, where he elevated the graphic medium from a popular craft to a recognized fine art form. Created just before his second major trip to Italy, the piece blends the rigorous, linear precision characteristic of the Northern Renaissance with an idealized sense of classical proportion, evident in the calm dignity of the figures.

The composition centers on the intimate depiction of the Madonna and Child, a recurrent and important subject in Dürer’s oeuvre. The Virgin Mary is shown gazing tenderly at the infant Christ, while two meticulously rendered angels hover directly above her, gently placing a crown upon her head. This celestial element emphasizes her status as the Queen of Heaven. The lower half of the composition unfolds into an expansive and deeply detailed landscape, framed by trees and receding into the distance. Dürer’s unparalleled skill in handling light and shadow within the demanding constraints of the woodcut technique allows him to create textures and atmospheric perspective, giving the black-and-white print remarkable depth.

This 1504 print became one of the most widely circulated and revered depictions of the Madonna and Child of its era, playing a significant role in establishing Dürer’s international reputation. Recognized as a defining example of High Renaissance graphic production, the woodcut is held in the esteemed permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Prints of this significant public domain artwork remain a vital resource for the study of early 16th-century religious iconography.