Artwork
Maria als schmerzhafte Mutter
Maria als schmerzhafte Mutter is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work portrays a cloaked woman whose right hand is lifted in a gesture of reverence.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a cloaked woman whose right hand is lifted in a gesture of reverence. A golden halo encircles her head, while a radiant sunburst glows behind her, flanked by angels in the upper corners. The figure’s expression is calm, and the garment is edged with detailed gold embroidery, creating an atmosphere of quiet devotion.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. The raised hand and halo emphasize her sanctity and role as a venerable matriarch within Christian tradition, inviting contemplation of her piety and maternal intercession.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a restrained palette of dark robes contrasted with luminous gold and yellow accents. Fine brushwork renders the intricate embroidery and the delicate halo, while the background sunburst and angelic figures are rendered with softer, atmospheric strokes that enhance the devotional mood.
Context
Depictions of Saint Anne were common in late medieval and early modern devotional art, reflecting growing interest in her as a model of maternal virtue. The inclusion of angels and a radiant sunburst aligns the work with iconographic conventions that associate saints with heavenly illumination.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
