This art-historical work offers an in-depth analysis of Caravaggio?s painting *The Death of the Virgin*, with particular attention to iconography, composition and historical context. Askew examines the relationship between form and meaning and situates the painting within the religious, social and artistic context of the early seventeenth century. The book explores the history of the commission and the role of the patron, as well as the reasons for the rejection of the work by the Carmelite Order. In addition, the author analyses the symbolism of the figures depicted, including the striking presence of Mary Magdalene, and examines the tension between realism and theological representation. By combining stylistic analysis, archival research and interpretative art history, the work offers a multidimensional insight into one of Caravaggio's most controversial paintings and into the broader development of Baroque religious art.