"Saint Anne Trinitarian". Carved, gilded and polychromed wooden sculpture. Gothic. 14th century.

"Saint Anne Trinitarian". Carved, gilded and polychromed wooden sculpture. Gothic. 14th century.
102 x 45 x 39 cm.
Important example of Spanish gothic imagery on which the original polychrome is preserved and which, due to its large dimensions, probably formed part of an important altar.
We are presented with Saint Anne in one of the most frequent depictions of medieval imagery, known as Saint Anne Trinitarian or Triplex, which form part of the compositions known as the Kinship or Genealogy of Christ.
This sculpture portrays Saint Anne seated on a throne and in a forward-facing position, as the centre of the composition. The Virgin Mary is in her lap, and the Baby Jesus is in Mary’s lap in turn.
Saint Anne’s face appears to look especially young despite her advanced age and is framed with the headdress of a married woman, and a short veil. She wears a tunic and cloak, which fall to her feet forming bulges and beautiful folds. Her feet rest on a cushion that pads the throne’s footstool.
The Virgin Mary is depicted as young, crowned and with the sweet expression of virginal youth. She holds the Child lovingly in her right hand and in turn he rests on her with an affectionate gesture as he faces forward. They are dressed in a simple tunic, which is to incite devotion to humility, in this way expressing their human nature.
Worship of Saint Anne developed rather late in the West. It was in the 13th century onwards, with its root being its inclusion in the “Golden Legend” by Jacobus de Varagine, that images of Saint Anne became more habitual, spreading around Europe and inspiring great fervour from the 15th century onwards. It was then that confraternities were formed and altars were raised in her honour.
The right hands of Saint Anne and of the Christ Child are missing.