The Virgin on the Crescent with a Diadem

"The Virgin on the Crescent with a Diadem" is a masterful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, in 1514. Executed in black ink on off-white laid paper, this piece exemplifies the peak of Dürer's technical skill in printmaking. The artist elevated the status of the print medium during the Northern Renaissance, treating copperplate engraving with the precision usually reserved for drawing or painting. This highly detailed work, categorized as a print, showcases Dürer’s characteristic linear control and sophisticated handling of texture and shadow through meticulous cross-hatching.

The subject matter depicts the Virgin Mary standing upon the crescent moon, an image aligned with the traditional iconography of the Woman of the Apocalypse, though here presented in a moment of sublime piety. The diadem adorning Mary’s head highlights her status as the Queen of Heaven, a prevalent devotional motif in religious art across Germany during the early 16th century. Although created just two years after his renowned allegorical work Melencolia I, this 1514 work demonstrates Dürer’s consistent mastery across diverse emotional registers. The small scale and portability of such engravings meant they were widely disseminated, greatly influencing artistic trends across Europe.

This exceptional example of Renaissance German printmaking is housed within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As one of Dürer’s most significant devotional works, the engraving remains highly studied for its complexity and compositional balance. Because the artist’s oeuvre has long been considered central to the history of art, high-resolution images and prints of this subject are often available through institutions participating in public domain initiatives.