Saint Anne with the Virgin and the Christ Child

c. 1511/1515

Master of Frankfurt

Associated Names
Master of Frankfurt

Artist, Netherlandish, c. 1460 - active 1520s

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.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
On View

West Building Main Floor, Gallery M39


Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on panel

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney K. Lafoon

  • 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.)

  • Accession Number

    1976.67.1


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Private collection, Budapest; purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney K. Lafoon, Washington, D.C., by or shortly before 1954; gift 1976 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1982

  • Hoenigswald, Ann. "Saint Anne with the Virgin and the Christ Child. Technical Investigation and Treatment." Studies in the History of Art 12 (1982): 55-65, figs. 1-8.

  • Hand, John Oliver. "Saint Anne with the Virgin and the Christ Child by the Master of Frankfurt," Studies in the History of Art 12 (1982): 43-52, figs. 1, 6.

1983

  • Goddard, Stephen. "The Master of Frankfurt and his Shop." Ph.D. dissertation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1983: 110-111, 153-154, 389, no. 78, fig. 136.

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 253, repro.

1986

  • Hand, John Oliver and Martha Wolff. Early Netherlandish Painting. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, 1986: 151-154, repro. 153.

Wikidata ID

Q20175280

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