Virgin with a Bird on a Grassy Bank
mid-15th century
Medium
Engraving, printed with white ink on black prepared paper, heightened with white
Dimensions
sheet: 3 7/8 x 4 in. (9.8 x 10.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Felix M. Warburg and his family, 1941
Accession Number
41.1.176
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the mid-15th century, enigmatic engraver known as Master ES created *Virgin with a Bird on Grassy Bank*, a devotional image of the Virgin seated on lush grass, cradling a small bird—likely symbolizing innocence or the Holy Spirit. This print, measuring just under 4 inches square, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance's growing fascination with intimate, portable religious art. Master ES, active in southern Germany around 14501467, was among the earliest artists to elevate engraving from mere reproduction to a sophisticated medium rivaling painting. What sets this work apart is its revolutio...
About the Artist
Master ES (German) · 1445 –1467
German, active ca. 1450–67