Who painted Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo)?

Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo) was painted by Unknown in 1510.

Where can I see Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo)?

Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

Artwork

Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo)

Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Back: Remnant of a halo) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work depicts a seated woman in a flowing robe, cradling an infant, while a second female figure stands nearby holding a swath of fabric.

About this work

Overview

The work depicts a seated woman in a flowing robe, cradling an infant, while a second female figure stands nearby holding a swath of fabric. The mother wears a modest veil, and the child is dressed in a simple white garment. The composition is set against a predominantly dark background that is punctuated by subtle highlights, creating a restrained yet intimate atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The central figures represent the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, accompanied by Saint Anne, traditionally identified as Mary's mother. The arrangement emphasizes familial bonds and the transmission of faith across generations, a theme common in devotional imagery that underscores the sanctity of motherhood and lineage within Christian iconography.

Technique & Style

The painter renders the garments with meticulous attention to the play of light on fabric folds, achieving a tactile sense of texture. The infant’s facial expression is rendered with delicate modeling, conveying emotion through subtle chiaroscuro. The overall palette is muted, relying on contrasts between deep shadows and limited illumination to focus the viewer’s eye on the figures.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its acquisition history traces back to the museum’s 19th‑century efforts to assemble representative works of Northern European religious art, though specific details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented in the available records.

Context

Created within the tradition of devotional panel paintings, the work reflects the continued popularity of the Madonna and Child motif during the late medieval to early Renaissance periods. The inclusion of Saint Anne aligns with a broader iconographic trend that sought to reinforce the holy lineage and provide models of piety for the faithful.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

Museum

Bavarian State Painting Collections

Continue through works from the same source collection.