The Virgin Surrounded by Many Angels

In this lively woodcut, Dürer evokes the Coronation of the Virgin, the last event in the cycle of prayers known as the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. She is about to be crowned Regina caeli, the Queen of Heaven, as angels and cherubs celebrate with gifts, music-making, and merriment. Dürer’s shallow use of space and symmetrical arrangement draw attention to the Madonna’s gaze, a fixed look that conveys both her attentiveness and compassion for those who are devoted to her.