Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

probably 1519
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 607
Dürer traveled to Italy from 1505–7, in particular to Venice, where he drew many inspirations for his art. Venetian painting encouraged Dürer’s interest in rich color and meticulous attention to detail, as well as simplicity of form. Dürer’s haunting devotional painting depicts Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary’s mother, who was particularly venerated in Germany, with the Virgin and Child. Anne’s hand on her daughter’s shoulder takes on a consolatory meaning, and her distant gaze suggests a premonition of Christ’s Passion. Although this panel’s date and monogram were added later, the date is likely accurate.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
  • Artist: Albrecht Dürer (German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg)
  • Date: probably 1519
  • Medium: Oil on linden
  • Dimensions: 23 5/8 x 19 5/8 in. (60 x 49.8 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
  • Object Number: 14.40.633
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

Audio

Cover Image for 5101. Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

5101. Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
Head of a Young Woman, Albrecht Dürer German, Black chalk highlighted with white chalk (abraded) on green prepared paper.
Head of a Young Woman
Albrecht Dürer
1522
Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe), Wood, leather, linen, gesso, pigments, silver, German
Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe)
German
ca. 1450
Saint Maurice, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop German, Oil on linden
Saint Maurice
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop
ca. 1520–25
Saint John on Patmos, Hans Baldung (called Hans Baldung Grien) German, Oil, gold, and white metal on spruce
Saint John on Patmos
Hans Baldung (called Hans Baldung Grien)
ca. 1511
Melencolia I, Albrecht Dürer German, Engraving
Melencolia I
Albrecht Dürer
1514

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.