The Virgin Seated under a Tree
1514
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1946.21.130
Art Historical Context
**The Virgin Seated under a Tree** (1514) is a delicate engraving by Lucas van Leyden, one of the Northern Renaissance's most brilliant young talents. Born in Leiden around 1494, van Leyden was a prodigy who mastered engraving by his teens, drawing inspiration from Albrecht Dürer while developing his own crisp, intricate style. This print, housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection (Department CG-E), captures the Virgin Mary in a serene moment, likely evoking her rest during the Holy Family's flight into Egypt—a popular devotional theme. Van Leyden's genius shines in the med...
About the Artist
Lucas van Leyden · 1484–1533
Lucas van Leyden (1494–1533) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who stands among the greatest engravers of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Leiden as either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, he lived and worked primarily in his native city, achieving international renown that rivaled the German master Albrecht Dürer. Lucas van Leyden revolutionized Netherlandish printmaking and was among the first...