Death of the Virgin

The depiction of Mary's death, known as "The Death of the Virgin," is a common subject in Western Christian art and corresponds to the "Dormition of the Theotokos" in Eastern Orthodox tradition. While this theme became less frequent after the Late Middle Ages due to growing support for the doctrine of the Assumption in the Roman Catholic Church, it remains significant. The Assumption does not explicitly state whether Mary was alive or dead at her bodily assumption but typically portrays her as alive.

The Bible does not provide details about Mary's death, but a tradition dating back to the 5th century claims that the twelve apostles were miraculously gathered from their missionary travels to witness her passing. This scene is often depicted in art with the apostles surrounding her bed.

Notable examples of this subject include Martin Schongauer's engraving from around 1470, which shows Mary on a bed with apostles gathered around. Earlier depictions often followed Byzantine styles, depicting Mary lying on a bed or sarcophagus with Christ above her. Other significant works include Andrea Mantegna's "Death of the Virgin," Hugo van der Goes' painting, and Rembrandt's etching.

Caravaggio's "Death of the Virgin" (1606) is a prominent late Catholic depiction of the subject. The theme has also been associated with three anonymous artists known collectively as the Master of the Death of the Virgin.