The Assumption of the Virgin with Saints from an Augustinian altarpiece 1450 - 1475

This panel, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, is part of an altarpiece created by an anonymous artist for the Augustinian order. The central subject is the Virgin Mary, depicted in the moment of her assumption into heaven. Surrounded by angels, she floats within a mandorla, an almond-shaped aureole of light. At the bottom we see kneeling saints and members of the Augustinian order. During this period, religious art served as a powerful tool for shaping cultural identities and norms. Representations of the Virgin Mary were particularly significant, embodying ideals of femininity, purity, and maternal love. Yet, we have to wonder what it meant for women of this time to see themselves always in relation to men and God. "The Assumption" invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between faith, gender, and societal expectations.