Hemelvaart van Maria 1571 - 1632

Antoni van Leest created this print of the Ascension of Mary sometime between 1575 and 1592. It presents a view of the Virgin Mary being carried to heaven, surrounded by angels. This image comes from the Netherlands, a place then in the throes of religious upheaval. In 1566, Dutch Protestants began destroying Catholic religious imagery in what was known as the Iconoclastic Fury, leading to a drawn-out revolt against the Catholic Spanish rulers. Prints like these were crucial for both sides of the conflict. For Catholics, they served as a reminder of their faith and tradition during a period of persecution. For Protestants, they were symbols of what they considered the excesses and idolatry of the Catholic Church. The fine details of the print and the surrounding frame suggest that it would have been circulated amongst a wealthy, educated class. Art historians investigate such nuances through the close study of images, cultural contexts, and institutional history.