Maria met kind en heilige Anna

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate engraving *Maria met kind en heil Anna* (Mary with Child and Saint Anne), crafted by Dutch artist Dirck Vellert 1522. This work, measuring just 75 mm high by 49 mm wide, captures a tender moment from Christian iconography: the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, accompanied by her mother, Saint Anne. Vellert, a Haarlem-based engraver active in the Renaissance, specialized in such small-scale religious prints, blending intricate detail with spiritual devotion. Engraving, Vellert's chosen medium, was revolutionary in the early 16th century, allowing artists to produce affordable, reproducible images for personal piety. By incising fine lines into a metal plate, Vellert achieved remarkable precision in this miniature format—perfect for prayer books or private altars. The precisely dated piece (December 31, 1522) reflects the era's meticulous craftsmanship amid the Renaissance's emphasis on humanism and faith, just before the Protestant Reformation reshaped religious art. Adorned with a collector's mark (Lugt 240), this rarity hints at its esteemed provenance among connoisseurs. A gem of Northern European printmaking, it invites visitors to marvel at how such tiny works carried profound cultural weight, fostering intimate connections to the divine in everyday life.