Virgin Mary death Durer 1518

The Virgin Mary lies in a large bed while the apostles gather around her to perform the last rites, including St. Peter sprinkling holy water and St. John holding a liturgical candle. In the foreground, a high-ranking ecclesiastical donor kneels in prayer next to his miter and coat of arms. Above the scene, a celestial opening in the clouds reveals Christ holding a small child that represents Mary's soul, accompanied by angels with inscribed scrolls.

This work reflects the 'Ars Moriendi' (Art of Dying) tradition, which provided a spiritual framework for the transition from the physical to the eternal realm. Within the Western esoteric tradition, the depiction of the soul as a small child (the 'Anima') and its ascent to the divine presence serves as a primary visual metaphor for the Neoplatonic return of the soul to its celestial source.