The Madonna of the Rosary
Medium
Engraving on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 27.1 × 18.5 cm (10 11/16 × 7 5/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3752
Art Historical Context
Created around 1480 by the prolific German engraver Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, *The Madonna of the Rosary* exemplifies the devotional power of early printmaking. Working in the late fifteenth century, van Meckenem produced hundreds of engravings that brought sacred imagery into homes and churches across northern Europe. This sheet, rendered with fine, precise lines on ivory-toned paper, captures the Virgin Mary presenting a rosary, inviting viewers into quiet prayer and meditation. The medium itself marks an important cultural shift. Engravings like this one could be printed in multipl...
About the Artist
Israhel van Meckenem, the younger
Israhel van Meckenem the Younger (c. 1440–1503) was a German goldsmith and engraver who became one of the most prolific printmakers of the fifteenth century. Born in Meckenheim near Bonn, he was trained by his father, Israhel van Meckenem the Elder, who was himself a goldsmith and engraver. The younger Israhel may also have worked in the workshop of the Master E.S., whose plates he later reworked ...