The death of the Virgin

Joos van Cleve painted this Death of the Virgin around 1515, depicting the Dormition—the peaceful passing of Mary surrounded by the assembled apostles—in the Flemish tradition established by Hugo van der Goes. The Death of the Virgin was a subject of great importance in Marian devotion and required the painter to depict an assembly of apostles around the dying or dead woman, each individualized through physiognomy and gesture. Joos van Cleve's version reflects his mastery of the complex multi-figure composition, managing the spatial arrangement of the apostles without losing the devotional focus on the central figure. The subject's combination of sacred intimacy and communal witness gave it enduring appeal across northern European religious patronage.

The panel demonstrates Joos van Cleve's mastery of complex multi-figure composition with luminous color, careful spatial organization, and the emotional restraint characteristic of his major devotional works.