Unknown Artist - The Death of the Virgin [c.1500]

The subject of this painting is the Death of the Virgin, the mother of Jesus. The painter turned the Virgin's deathbed into a human drama with the apostles each responding in their own way to her death. It was painted around the year 1500 in Utrecht or Amsterdam. The artist's name is no longer known: which is why the painter is referred to as the Master of the Amsterdam Death of the Virgin.

In a sombre room, the Virgin Mary lies on her deathbed. The twelve followers of her son Jesus are making preparations for her immanent departure. John, at the head of the bed, places a candle in Mary's hand. Next to him, Peter, is about to sprinkle Holy Water with an aspergillum. On the left, two men have a bowl of incense at the ready. Some are deep in thought, others are reading the Bible. This portrayal is not based on the Bible, but on a story in a medieval book of Golden Legend: when she felt death approaching, the Virgin Maria summoned her child and his followers to be present at her deathbed. The Angel Gabriel ordered all the apostles to go to the house where Mary lay dying.

[Oil on panel, 58 x 78 cm]