The Lady of the festival du Rosaire(fragment) 1506

Albrecht Dürer painted this fragment of ‘The Lady of the Festival du Rosaire’ at the beginning of the 16th century, a time of significant religious and social change in Europe. The image combines religious iconography with a clear depiction of the social hierarchy of the time. We can see the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus at the center surrounded by saints, clergy, and members of the laity. Commissioned for a church in Venice, the painting reflects the city's devout Catholic culture while subtly displaying the social order, with religious figures and nobility closest to the Virgin. Dürer, a German artist working in Italy, brings a Northern European attention to detail, reflecting the artistic exchange of the time. Understanding this artwork requires historical context. Research into the festival of the Rosary, the patronage system of the Renaissance, and the religious environment of Venice will reveal Dürer's role in interpreting and reinforcing social and religious norms.