Virgin and Child with the Patron Saints of Constance
Medium
Hand-colored woodcut and letterpress; second state of two (Burkhard)
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 9/16 × 6 9/16 in. (26.8 × 16.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942
Accession Number
42.25
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 16th century, Burgkmair, a pioneering German Renaissance artist from Augsburg, created *Virgin and Child with the Patron Saints of Constance a masterful hand-colored woodcut and letterpress print. This second state of two, as cataloged by Burkhard, the era's innovative printmaking techniques, blending precise woodblock carving with vibrant hand-applied colors and letterpress text. Measuring just 10 9/16 × 6 9/16 inches, it was designed for intimate devotion, allowing affordable dissemination of sacred imagery beyond elite patrons. The composition centers on the Madonna tenderly h...
About the Artist
Hans Burgkmair · 1473–1531
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German painter and printmaker who became one of the leading artists of the Renaissance in Augsburg. Born into a family of painters — his father, Thoman Burgkmair, was a respected artist — he likely received his initial training in his father's workshop. He may also have studied with Martin Schongauer in Colmar, and a probable visit to Italy around 1507 ex...