The Coronation of the Virgin; surrounded by nine vignettes with scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin

Art Historical Context

Giorgio Ghisi’s engraving *The Coronation of the Virgin*, created by 1575, presents a richly layered devotional image centered on Mary’s heavenly crowning by Christ. Surrounding this central scene are nine small vignettes illustrating key moments from the lives of Christ and the Virgin, guiding viewers through a narrative of incarnation, passion, and redemption. Ghisi, a leading sixteenth-century Italian printmaker active in Mantua, was renowned for his precise burin technique and ability to translate complex compositions into widely distributable prints. As an engraving, the work exemplifies how the medium allowed sacred imagery to reach broader audiences beyond church walls during the late Renaissance. The fine lines capture delicate textures—from flowing drapery to the glint of musical instruments played by surrounding angels—demonstrating Ghisi’s mastery in rendering light and depth on copper. Such prints often served both devotional and educational purposes, helping the faithful meditate on biblical stories. Housed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this compact sheet (just over 12 inches tall) reflects the era’s growing interest in portable religious art that combined spiritual instruction with artistic refinement.

About the Artist

Giorgio Ghisi · 1520–1582

Giorgio Ghisi (c. 1520–1582) was one of the most accomplished engravers of the Italian Renaissance, renowned for translating the monumental compositions of Raphael, Giulio Romano, and Michelangelo into the exacting medium of the burin. Born in Mantua, he trained in an environment shaped by the legacy of Giulio Romano's decoration of the Palazzo del Te, and the grandeur of that Mannerist tradition ...