The Holy Family with Two Angels in a Vaulted Hall

c. 1504

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer

Artist, German, 1471 - 1528

The image is a detailed woodcut showing a scene with several figures. In the center foreground, a seated woman is depicted in full-length with her head slightly tilted down, holding a child on her lap. The child is facing forward and reaching out towards another figure. Both the woman and child have gentle facial features, and the woman's hair is covered by a draped headpiece. Around them are two angels with large wings, standing on either side, and a bearded man standing to the right, observing the scene with a gentle gesture toward them. The figures wear flowing gowns. Behind them is an archway with a round, recessed detail in the center. In the upper corners of the arch are figures resembling mythological characters.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Philip Hofer

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to block): 21.8 × 15.2 cm (8 9/16 × 6 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1941.3.11

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 213


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (Lugt 1934); Philip Hofer [1898-1984], Cambridge, MA; gift to NGA, 1941.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1932

  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog; ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna: Verlag Gilhofer und Ranschburg, 1932. Reprint. New York: Da Capo Press, 1971: no. 213.

2001

  • Schoch, Rainer, Mattihas Mende, and Anna Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk. Munich, 2001: vol. 2: no. 132.

Inscriptions

in block, lower left, on sheet: AD [artist's monogram]; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: C. 16769; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: B 100; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: 14; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: K. 7199; verso, bottom left, in graphite by a later hand: B-294 [upside down]

Wikidata ID

Q18339739

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