Gretchen in Front of the Statue of the Virgin Mary
Artist: Adam Vogler (Austrian, 1822–1856
Date: 1856
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private Collection
Description
"Gretchen in Front of the Statue of the Virgin Mary" depicts a pivotal, tragic moment from Goethe's Faust, where the seduced, pregnant Gretchen prays to the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother) for help, identifying with Mary's suffering as she faces shame, potential death, and losing her child.











