The Virgin Crowned by Angelsc. 1450 · Study 1968.20

Context from the museum

Two angels, barely visible against a dark background, crown Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Her slight features are made more substantial by her elaborately draped, brilliant crimson mantle. Holding the Christ child, she stands on a floor scattered with red and white roses, symbols of her purity. Green palmettes enriched with costly gold thread decorate the velvet. Since silk velvet was not woven in the north, Italian velvets were frequently depicted in northern paintings during the 1400s. Lochner is thought to have come from Meersburg in southwest Germany, and is recorded as being in Cologne by 1442, where he was paid for decorations in connection with the celebration of the visit of Emperor Frederick III. He was elected town councillor by the painters’ guild in 1447 and 1450. There are no records of him after 1451.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Although they are barely visible, two angels are holding the crown above the figure of Mary.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for The Virgin Crowned by Angels is 29.2 cm wide and 50.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 11.5 × 19.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.58:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.15 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 9.7% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 135.4 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With The Virgin Crowned by Angels in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on wood, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 29.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?