The Virgin at top center in clouds with clasped hands and right foot raised, surrounded by cherubin; below, the twelve apostles stand together gesturing upwards

Art Historical Context

Created in 1517 by Domenico Campagnola, this engraving captures a moment of divine revelation. The Virgin Mary appears at the top center, rising amid clouds with hands clasped in prayer and one foot gracefully lifted, encircled by cherubs. Below, the twelve apostles stand clustered together, their upward gestures and expressive faces conveying awe and wonder as they witness her ascent. As an engraving, the work reflects the Renaissance era’s growing interest in printmaking as a means to share religious imagery widely. Campagnola’s precise linework allows for delicate modeling of drapery and figures, translating the ethereal quality of the scene into a reproducible format that reached audiences beyond churches and palaces. The compact sheet size made such devotional prints accessible for private contemplation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this piece highlights how 16th-century artists used the medium to blend spiritual narrative with technical refinement, inviting viewers to share in the apostles’ moment of faith.

About the Artist

Domenico Campagnola · 1500–1564

Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564), a Venetian Renaissance painter, engraver, and pioneering draftsman, was born around 1500, likely in Venice to German parents, and became a child prodigy under the tutelage of his adoptive father, Giulio Campagnola. Apprenticed to Giulio around 1507 in Venice, he mastered painting, drawing, engraving, and woodcutting from the esteemed Paduan engraver, whose stipp...