Virgin and Child with the Patron Saints of Constance

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 holding the Christ Child, flanked by Constance's patron saints, angels, and heraldic coats of arms—symbols of local pride and piety for the German city of Konstanz (Constance). During the Renaissance, such prints fostered religious fervor amid events like the nearby Council of Constance (1414–1418), bridging art, faith, and civic identity. Burgkmair's nuanced lines and subtle shading capture emotional depth, elevating woodcuts from mere reproduction to artistic expression. Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942), this work highlights printmaking's role in democratizing art, inviting viewers to ponder its blend of spirituality and regional heritage.

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...