The artwork “St Anne with the Virgin and Child” was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1519. This Northern Renaissance piece is a religious painting executed using tempera and oil on panel, and its dimensions are 60 by 49.8 centimeters. Currently, it is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, United States.
The artwork exhibits a portrayal of St Anne, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child in a close, familial arrangement. St Anne, occupying the background, is depicted with a remarkable, almost reflective gaze, suggesting a depth of experience and wisdom. Her white headdress envelops her face, providing a stark contrast to her features. At the forefront, the Virgin Mary is rendered with gentle, maternal qualities, her face inclined towards the infant Jesus. Her youthful visage carries a sense of serene contemplation, emphasized by the soft lighting that caresses her features. The Christ Child, nestled between St Anne and the Virgin, appears to be sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the outside world, with his hand delicately clasped by his mother.
Dürer’s skillful rendering of textures and fabrics is conspicuous, notably in the treatment of St Anne’s headdress and the Virgin’s garments, imparting a tangible quality to their attire. The meticulous attention to detail and the rich, subtle layering of colors are typical of Dürer’s style and contribute to the solemnity and quietude of the scene. The composition reflects the typical Northern Renaissance focus on realism, meticulous detail, and devotion, capturing the sacred bond shared between grandmother, mother, and child in a moment frozen in time.
