Saint Anne Enthroned with the Virgin and Child 1495 - 1505

This painting, Saint Anne Enthroned with the Virgin and Child, was created around 1500 by the Osma Master. Here, Saint Anne sits enthroned, a symbol of her elevated status, with the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child before her. The figures are adorned with halos, ancient symbols of sanctity and divine light. The motif of the Holy Kinship has roots extending back to depictions of royal families in antiquity, and carries echoes of classical maternal figures. Look at the book in Saint Anne’s hands; it is reminiscent of similar depictions in classical depictions of philosophers and prophets. Note, too, the swastika-like symbol on the floor, which recurs in different cultures and periods. It is a potent example of a symbol that evolves across history and geography, shifting meanings, reflecting our ever-changing collective psyche. This image is more than a portrait; it is an intricate web of cultural memory.