St. Anne teaching the Virgin to read
PLACE/DATE
Portugal, late 16th century - early 17th century
MATERIALS
Painted and gilt wood
DIMENSIONS
66 x 23 x 19 cm
INV
ESC.37
As an alternative to the most common model in which St. Anne is represented sitting on a throne accompanying her daughter in reading, in this piece, St. Anne is shown standing with her daughter on her lap while her daughter learns to read from a book held in her hand.
According to medieval tradition, taught by her mother, the Virgin Mary would be reading the prophecy (Isaiah, 7.14) that precisely foresaw the advent of Jesus Christ, when she was surprised by the Archangel Gabriel's Annunciation. In the society of the early Modern period, which was mostly illiterate, sculptures like this one contributed to the enhancement of the teaching of first letters, particularly among women. This is one of the reasons why this work is an iconographic reference to the role of Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Lisbon in the education of young girls and the care of elderly women.