The Education of the Virgin (ca. 1630–54, Met-Objekt 1176)
Original title: The education of the Virgin, with Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary reading with two putti overhead and Saint Joachim behind them at right
kurzbeschreibung
The Virgin Mary is shown receiving instruction from her mother, Saint Anne. Schelte Adams à Bolswert made this print between about 1630 and 1654. It is an etching and engraving, in the second of five states.
Description
Mary sits on Saint Anne's lap, reading from a book. Above the two women, two putti hover, holding flowers. To the right, behind Anne, Saint Joachim stands watching. A column and plants suggest an interior or temple setting. Light falls from above, emphasizing contours and the folds of the drapery.
Context
Schelte Adams à Bolswert, a seventeenth-century Flemish engraver, is best known for his reproductive prints after Rubens. The Education of the Virgin was a favored subject of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, which stressed the importance of Saint Anne. This print was made in the first half of the seventeenth century in the circle of Rubens's workshop.
Impact
The symmetrical layout and central group of figures give the image a calm balance. Delicate lines and graded gray tones produce a refined, understated appearance. The emphasis on drapery folds and the direction of light create a solemn, devotional mood.
Technique
Etching and engraving are combined here, allowing for precise linework and nuanced tonal values. The monochrome rendering in shades of gray is typical of printmaking techniques of the period. The sheet was printed in the second of five states.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)