Liberale da Verona – attributed to Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child
Liberale da Verona – attributed to Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child
Painting attributed to Liberale da Verona (c. 1445–1527/1529)
Title: Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child
Date: c. 1490
Dimensions: height: 92 cm, width: 60 cm, vertical format
Technique: tempera on panel
Title: Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child
Date: c. 1490
Dimensions: height: 92 cm, width: 60 cm, vertical format
Technique: tempera on panel
The painting depicts three figures seated together—one atop the other—on a stone bench within a structure resembling a pavilion. These figures are Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child. Their forms dominate the composition. They are portrayed in such a way that Mary sits on Anne’s lap, while the Christ Child sits on Mary’s lap.
Saint Anne is shown seated facing the viewer. She wears a dark cloak that takes on blue tones in the light. The cloak falls just above her ankles, and a section of a red gown peeks out from beneath the hem. The hood of the cloak is draped over her head. Underneath it, a white scarf encircles her wrinkled face and covers her entire neck. A portion of Anne’s right arm is visible, resting on Mary’s thighs. Her wrist is adorned with a wide, golden bracelet.
Anne holds Mary on her lap, steadying her with her right hand on Mary’s left thigh, which is closer to the viewer. Mary sits facing us frontally, though her legs are turned to our left. Both women turn their heads slightly to our right and tilt them gently.
The Virgin Mary wears a red gown and a golden cloak with red floral patterns. The lining of the cloak is a light green color. She also has the hood of her cloak drawn over her head. Her face is oval-shaped, her complexion smooth, and her neck exposed. Her right arm is bent at the elbow to hold the Child, while her left arm is slightly bent as well. With her left hand, Mary gently touches Jesus’s foot.
The Christ Child is positioned at an angle, facing our right, like Saint Anne. However, His head is turned to our left. A soft white cloth is wrapped around His hips. He has a round head crowned with golden curls, a slightly protruding belly, and delicate hands and feet. His left arm is bent at a right angle, holding a golden orb—symbolizing dominion over the world—with the palm facing upward. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing.
All three figures have rosy cheeks, thin eyebrows, and large eyes gazing forward. Their lips are narrow and slightly pink. The noses of Mary and Anne are straight, while the Child’s nose is slightly upturned. Their heads are encircled by golden halos—radiant auras signifying their holiness.
The pavilion, in which the figures sit on the stone bench, frames the entire composition. On either side are openings that reveal a wide, scenic landscape. The pavilion is constructed from grey-brown stone, standing out against the green ground and the greenish-blue background landscape.
“Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child” is a depiction of Saint Anne with her daughter, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child. With the growing veneration of Saint Anne in the late Middle Ages—especially around 1480 to 1530—the number of such representations increased significantly, particularly in Northern Europe, most notably in the regions of Germany and the Low Countries.
Audio description: Agata Lech
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol
Saint Anne is shown seated facing the viewer. She wears a dark cloak that takes on blue tones in the light. The cloak falls just above her ankles, and a section of a red gown peeks out from beneath the hem. The hood of the cloak is draped over her head. Underneath it, a white scarf encircles her wrinkled face and covers her entire neck. A portion of Anne’s right arm is visible, resting on Mary’s thighs. Her wrist is adorned with a wide, golden bracelet.
Anne holds Mary on her lap, steadying her with her right hand on Mary’s left thigh, which is closer to the viewer. Mary sits facing us frontally, though her legs are turned to our left. Both women turn their heads slightly to our right and tilt them gently.
The Virgin Mary wears a red gown and a golden cloak with red floral patterns. The lining of the cloak is a light green color. She also has the hood of her cloak drawn over her head. Her face is oval-shaped, her complexion smooth, and her neck exposed. Her right arm is bent at the elbow to hold the Child, while her left arm is slightly bent as well. With her left hand, Mary gently touches Jesus’s foot.
The Christ Child is positioned at an angle, facing our right, like Saint Anne. However, His head is turned to our left. A soft white cloth is wrapped around His hips. He has a round head crowned with golden curls, a slightly protruding belly, and delicate hands and feet. His left arm is bent at a right angle, holding a golden orb—symbolizing dominion over the world—with the palm facing upward. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing.
All three figures have rosy cheeks, thin eyebrows, and large eyes gazing forward. Their lips are narrow and slightly pink. The noses of Mary and Anne are straight, while the Child’s nose is slightly upturned. Their heads are encircled by golden halos—radiant auras signifying their holiness.
The pavilion, in which the figures sit on the stone bench, frames the entire composition. On either side are openings that reveal a wide, scenic landscape. The pavilion is constructed from grey-brown stone, standing out against the green ground and the greenish-blue background landscape.
“Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child” is a depiction of Saint Anne with her daughter, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child. With the growing veneration of Saint Anne in the late Middle Ages—especially around 1480 to 1530—the number of such representations increased significantly, particularly in Northern Europe, most notably in the regions of Germany and the Low Countries.
Audio description: Agata Lech
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol