Lineage of Saint Anne 1500

Gerard David painted this 'Lineage of Saint Anne' in the early 16th century, an elaborate depiction of Christ's family tree. At its heart is the "Holy Kinship" motif, showing Saint Anne with her daughter, the Virgin Mary, and the infant Christ, all figures central to Christian iconography. Above them, a stylized tree sprouts forth, each branch bearing ancestors. The tree, a symbol of genealogy and divine lineage, recalls similar trees in illuminated manuscripts and tapestries of the era, all aiming to visually reinforce dynastic power and divine right. Note how the motif of the 'family tree' reemerges across cultures, from ancient Egyptian depictions of royal genealogies to modern family trees, reflecting a universal human desire to map our origins and affirm our place in the world. The emotional resonance of belonging and continuity conveyed by such imagery touches upon deep-seated psychological needs for identity and connection, perpetually influencing its visual representation. The symbol is non-linear, appearing, shifting and resurfacing through time.