This painting depicts three people seated side-by-side outdoors. The central person is a young, nude child with curly, reddish hair and a red beaded necklace, sitting on a red cushion. Their head is turned to the right. The woman on the left wears a white head covering, a sheer veil around her neck, a green dress, and a red cloak with floral designs. She holds the torso of the child and drapes a white cloth around its legs. The woman on the right has long, flowing reddish hair and wears a white dress or robe with gold detailing down the front, on the neckline, and on the wrists. She holds an open red book, and the child is turning one of the thin pages. All three people have pale skin. Above them, in the cloudy blue sky, there is a white dove with its wings outstretched, gold lines radiating from it. Above the dove, there is an image of a crowned bearded man with pale skin, wearing red robes and holding an orb. He is against a golden background with red dots that breaks through the pale clouds. The background shows a landscape with green trees, hills, and pale blue buildings.

Saint Anne with the Virgin and the Christ Child

Master of Frankfurt

This painting depicts three people seated side-by-side outdoors. The central person is a young, nude child with curly, reddish hair and a red beaded necklace, sitting on a red cushion. Their head is turned to the right. The woman on the left wears a white head covering, a sheer veil around her neck, a green dress, and a red cloak with floral designs. She holds the torso of the child and drapes a white cloth around its legs. The woman on the right has long, flowing reddish hair and wears a white dress or robe with gold detailing down the front, on the neckline, and on the wrists. She holds an open red book, and the child is turning one of the thin pages. All three people have pale skin. Above them, in the cloudy blue sky, there is a white dove with its wings outstretched, gold lines radiating from it. Above the dove, there is an image of a crowned bearded man with pale skin, wearing red robes and holding an orb. He is against a golden background with red dots that breaks through the pale clouds. The background shows a landscape with green trees, hills, and pale blue buildings.

Colors in this work

Details
Artist
Master of Frankfurt
Date
c. 1511/1515
Medium
oil on panel
Dimensions
painted surface: 72.5 x 56.7 cm (28 9/16 x 22 5/16 in.) overall (panel): 73.5 x 57.5 cm (28 15/16 x 22 5/8 in.) framed: 84.5 x 70.5 x 6.4 cm (33 1/4 x 27 3/4 x 2 1/2 in.)
Department
CNE-R
Holding institution
National Gallery of Art
Palette

Select a color to find related artworks.

Image provider
national-gallery-of-art
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney K. Lafoon

Art Genome Taxonomy

9 tags

Subject Matter

  • Madonna and Child Both · 99%

    The title identifies the Virgin and Christ Child, who are visibly shown together with the child seated between the two women.

  • Saints Metadata · 99%

    Saint Anne is named in the catalog title and appears as the older, veiled woman supporting the child at left.

  • Landscapes Visual · 98%

    A broad green landscape with wooded areas, hills, water or atmospheric distance, and numerous pale buildings and towers fills the background.

Visual Qualities

  • Highly Detailed Visual · 97%

    The painting contains finely rendered details in the faces, hair, foliage, architecture, jewelry, textiles, embroidery, and patterned red drapery.

  • Patterns Visual · 98%

    Repeated floral and ornamental motifs are visible across the large red textile and along the gold-edged borders of the white garment.

Medium and Techniques

  • Oil Painting Metadata · 100%

    The catalog identifies the medium as oil on panel.

  • Oil on Panel Metadata · 100%

    The catalog specifies that the painting is executed on a panel support.

Time Periods

  • 16th Century Art Metadata · 99%

    The catalog dates the work to circa 1511/1515, placing it within the sixteenth century.

Cultural and Religious Styles

  • Christian Art and Architecture Both · 99%

    The title names Saint Anne, the Virgin, and the Christ Child, and the image presents them in a sacred devotional grouping with a dove and crowned figure above.

Source & rights

Master of Frankfurt. Saint Anne with the Virgin and the Christ Child. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.

High-resolution sources

Catalog record ↗ Image source ↗ Image license ↗ Image-use terms ↗ Catalog metadata terms ↗

Related

Loading related artworks…