Spanish school of the 20th century.

Spanish school of the 20th century.
"Saint Anne teaching the Virgin to read".
Wooden soul, wood hair, embossed silver, ivory, tortoiseshell simile.
Presents faults.
Needs restoration.
Measurements: 40 x 45 x 26 cm.

The scene that we show was frequent in the Christian art, from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, symbolizing the transmission of knowledge and faith from mother to daughter. In this sculptural group, with the figures and the pedestal covered with embossed silver, Saint Anne is seated on a wooden chair and holds a phylactery before the Virgin, who is still a child. Mary's loose hair has been carved in wood. The ivory faces are highly expressive and contrasting: between Anne's angular, wrinkled features and the rounded, smooth features of the young girl. In doing so, they denote the image of experience versus innocence. The embossing emulates the floral embroidery of the tunics, as well as the naturalistic draping of the veil that frames the mature face and the Marian dress. The feet, also in ivory, wear fine sandals in the case of the mother, while those of Mary are barefoot. On the pedestal, the embossing emulates a beautiful checkerboard pattern.