The ''Assumption of the Virgin'' is an oil on panel painting by Palma Vecchio, created ''c.'' 1513, now in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

. It shows an episode recounted in the

apocryphal gospels The New Testament apocrypha (singular apocryphon) are a number of writings by early Christians that give accounts of Jesus and his teachings, the nature of God, or the teachings of his apostles and of their lives. Some of these writings were cite ...

- the Virgin Mary rising to heaven carried by angels. In this case the legend of the Girdle of Thomas is included, with Mary about to drop the belt of her dress down to Thomas the Apostle.

History and description

The large painting is perhaps the first Vecchio produced in Venice. It was probably commissioned in 1513 and it appears the artist received a fee of 50

ducat The ducat () coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages from the 13th to 19th centuries. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained wi ...

s from the Scuola di Santa Maria Maggiore's

syndic Syndic (Late Latin: '; Greek: ' – one who helps in a court of justice, an advocate, representative) is a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a universi ...

s, showing that he was already highly regarded on Venetian territory despite his youth. Giorgio Vasari and Roberto Ridolfi also mention a painting of ''Madonna in the Air'' by Vecchio, then in the Church of San Moisè. In 1808 the painting and the other works of the

Scuola della Carità The Gallerie dell'Accademia is a museum gallery of pre-19th-century art in Venice, northern Italy. It is housed in the Scuola della Carità on the south bank of the Grand Canal, within the sestiere of Dorsoduro. It was originally the gallery of ...

were confiscated by the Napoleonic authorities in Italy, entering the Gallerie dell'Accademia four years later. A restoration in 1967 confirmed its attribution as an early Vecchio.

Description

The image depicts the Madonna who, contrary to traditional representations, turns her gaze downwards to the apostle. It is heavily influenced by

Giovanni Bellini Giovanni Bellini (; c. 1430 – 26 November 1516) was an Italian Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. He was raised in the household of Jacopo Bellini, formerly thought to have been his father ...

's '' Virgin in Glory with Saints'', now in the church of San Pietro Martire in

Murano Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It lies about north of Venice and measures about across with a population of just over 5,000 (2004 figures). It is famous for its glass making. It was on ...

and by ''Deposition in the Sepulchre'' in

Iesi Jesi, also spelled Iesi (), is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Ancona in Marche, Italy. It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left (north) bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic ...

by Lorenzo Lotto, particularly in the depiction of the face of the angels supporting the

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

, and in the slightly awkward angel holding up the ascending Virgin, an unusual representation. The full-length depictions of the apostles are depicted looking toward the sky. They have a sculptural presence and form, perhaps in tribute to the sculptor

Tullio Lombardo Tullio Lombardo (c. 1455 – November 17, 1532), also known as Tullio Solari, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor. He was the brother of Antonio Lombardo and son of Pietro Lombardo. The Lombardo family worked together to sculpt famous Catholic c ...

who was close to the artist. They wear brightly coloured clothes, including red, green, and yellow cloaks, with a small gap at the bottom cut at an unknown date to allow for a tabernacle. In the background is a barren landscape and in the far distance a castle. Above them is the Madonna wearing a pink dress with copious moving folds, a blue flapping cloak and a white veil. Behind her is a golden mandorla (almond-shaped halo) and she is supported by musician angels, including an angel with open wings holding her up, all shown against an intense blue sky. The Madonna holds an ochre belt in her left hand and hands it to the apostle who stands immediately below her with a confused and incredulous gaze - the apocrypha relates that he had not only initially disbelieved in the Resurrection but also the Assumption.

References

Bibliography

* {{Palma Vecchio 1513 paintings

Palma Palma or La Palma means palm in a number of languages and may also refer to: Geography Africa *Palma, Mozambique, city ** Palma District *La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, Spain **La Palma (DO), a ''Denominación de Origen'' for wines from the ...

Paintings by Palma Vecchio Paintings in the Gallerie dell'Accademia