Painting of the Month

Albrecht Altdorfer: 'Christ Taking Leave of his Mother'

How does Altdorfer portray both heightened emotion, and the future, in his painting?

Albrecht Altdorfer, 'Christ taking Leave of his Mother'

Christ is telling his mother that he is leaving to go to Jerusalem and, ultimately, to his death — the painting clearly illustrates the pain being felt by Mary, and her companions, on hearing this news.

Anchoring the scene at the centre, Christ calmly reassures the women, as does Saint John the Evangelist standing on the far right in red. Saint Peter, positioned between them, holds his hands in a horizontal prayer position perhaps to soothe the women.

Despite this reassurance, the Virgin Mary, dressed in dark blue, collapses onto the stony ground. Together, the women comprise a fragile triangular shape. Their reactions and clothing, such as the sad face and drooping material of the woman dressed in green, accentuate their grief.

This is an early example of an artist using landscape to amplify mood. Behind Christ and the saints on the right, the trees are flourishing and the distant landscape appears fertile. In contrast, behind the grieving women we can see stark branches against a turbulent sky. These, together with the frieze on the pillar depicting the Flagellation, suggest Christ’s future suffering.

This story was popular in 16th century Northern Europe; the small figures in the right hand corner probably represent the donors who would have commissioned and paid for the painting.

Find out more at this month's 10-minute talks – every Monday in April at 4pm.