Basic Information

Historical Context

A woodcut from the Life of the Virgin series depicting the Visitation — Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. [Inferred from Dürer Catalog] Visual Description Mary and Elizabeth embrace in the foreground, their swollen bellies visible beneath their robes. Zacharias stands behind Elizabeth. The scene is set before a townscape with architectural details. The composition emphasizes the joyful meeting of the two expectant mothers. Artistic Analysis Dürer's Visitation combines narrative clarity with emotional warmth. The embrace of the two women — both miraculously pregnant — conveys the joy and significance of the meeting. The townscape background demonstrates Dürer's ability to integrate architectural setting with narrative content.