Madonna on a Grassy Bench

1503

German, Nuremberg 1471-1528

Here Dürer shows a private human moment enjoyed by the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, seated on the ground within a simple fence. Even this understated image is rich with Christian meaning: Mary is depicted as the Madonna of Humility within the Hortus Conclusus, an enclosed garden that itself was a symbol of her virginity. As in many of his prints, Dürer denotes the sky simply by leaving the area blank.

Engraving

4 3/16 x 3 1/16 in. (10.6 x 7.7 cm)

Gift of Dr. Leo Wallerstein

53.176

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Durer, Rembrandt, and Goya: Old Masters Prints from the Seattle Art Museum Collection", May 31, 2001 - January 1, 2002 (5/31/2001 - 1/1/2002)

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "The Old Masters: 1475-1875", December 9, 1976 - January 16, 1977. (12/09/1976 - 01/16/1977)

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Old Master Prints from the Wallerstein Collection", October 18 - December 30, 1984. Circuit: Brown University, Bell Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island, 1/16/85-2/13/85; Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, New York, 3/5/85-5/26/85. (10/18/1984 - 05/26/1985)

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