The Church Enthroned (1490/1536): Artwork and History

The Church Enthroned (1490/1536) is in the Art Institute of Chicago collection. The museum lists its creator attribution as Daniel Hopfer, I German, 1470-1536.

The work and its context

The Art Institute of Chicago describes the work:

This early state of Daniel Hopfer’s etching was likely printed during the artist’s lifetime, though subsequent identifications of its subject vary. Some believe it depicts Saint Barbara (who displays a chalice and communion wafer in a nearby woodcut by Hans Baldung Grien, 2009.43). Others argue the figure is the Virgin Mary, with the hovering head of Christ and the tiny Crucifixion on the host above her abdomen announcing her pregnancy. Unlike many Japanese prints in this gallery, the image does not refer to a specific cult statue or pilgrimage site. Instead, Mary’s halo, regal throne, and cloth of honor reflect the power of the entire Church.

Object facts

• Title: The Church Enthroned
• Date: 1490/1536
• Artist attribution: Daniel Hopfer, I German, 1470-1536
• Place of origin: Germany
• Medium: Etching in black on cream laid paper
• Dimensions: Image/plate/sheet: 22.9 × 15.9 cm (9 1/16 × 6 5/16 in.)
• Type: Print
• Department: Prints and Drawings
• Reference number: 1956.975

Collection credit

Bequest of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Jr.

View the original

Explore the artwork in the Art Institute's collection, including its image and the museum's current catalogue details.

The description above is credited to the Art Institute of Chicago and reused under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; HTML formatting has been converted to plain text. Other catalogue metadata and the public-domain image are provided under CC0 1.0.