Dormition of the Virgin

A rare and beautifully composed Renaissance depiction of the Dormition of the Virgin, the “falling asleep” of Mary, who, according to tradition, did not die a human death but was taken peacefully into Heaven
The story comes not from the Bible itself, but from the rich body of early Christian legend later gathered in Jacobus de Voragine’s Golden Legend, a text that shaped much of the visual culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
At the centre of the composition, the Virgin lies serenely surrounded by the Apostles. Her expression is calm, almost smiling, as if already at rest beyond the earthly world. She is shown older than in other biblical scenes, suggesting the passage of many years since the life of Christ.
The Apostles gather around her in quiet devotion. Saint Peter, solemn and expressive, appears to guide the ceremony while also drawing the viewer into the scene. Saint John is traditionally understood as the first to arrive, with the others miraculously gathered from across the world in answer to his prayer. An angel presents Mary with a palm branch, symbol of her passage and procession into Heaven.
Each Apostle is carefully individualised, their expressions and features distinct, as though drawn from life. Whether devotional figures, contemporary likenesses, or even self-portraits of the artist and patron, they bring a striking sense of presence and humanity to the sacred scene.
Set within an architectural interior rendered with early mastery of perspective, the composition opens upward to glimpses of clear blue sky beyond the arches, a quiet visual bridge between earth and Heaven.
Sensitive restoration has revealed the richness of the original palette: deep reds, greens, earth tones, and the Virgin’s traditional blue, all contributing to a work of exceptional warmth and devotional power.

Provenance: Bochmann Collection, Meerane, Germany; later Bavarian private collection