Saint Anne, the Virgin and Child. Carved, polychromed

Saint Anne, the Virgin and Child. Carved, polychromed and gilded wooden relief. Southern Germany. Swabia. Gothic. 15th century.
Magnificent sculptural group, which could have been the central section of a German altarpiece.
The cult of Saint Anne developed rather late in the west, and it was after the 15th century that it extended throughout Europe with great fervour, Swabia being precisely one of the zones in which it had the most followers.
This sculpture is enriched with marvellous polychrome, and shows Saint Anne in the centre of the composition, dressed in rich robes; a gilded tunic and a green and gilt cloak, which fall forming voluminous and beautiful folds to her feet. Her face is especially young-looking, in spite of her advanced age, and is framed with a veil. On her right side is the Virgin Mary, depicted with long, wavy hair worn loose, and an expression of virginal youth. She wears a simple blue tunic, knotted at the waist, and holds a fruit out to her son, the Christ Child, who is nude in order to encourage humility in worshippers by showing His human nature. 71,5 x 41 x 11 cm.