Title of Art: Madonna and Child with St. Anne and Five Angels
Artist: Tommaso Di Cristoforo Fini
Art Form: Painting
Date of Composition: 1424-1425
Subjects: Mary, Mother of God; Anne
Ritual Pose/Object: enthroned pose
Exhibit Institution: Le Gallerie degli Uffizi (The Uffizi)
Exhibit Location: Florence, Italy
VM Image #: 0039
Photographer: Shala Graham
Date of Photograph: January 7, 2023
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Mary holds Jesus on her lap, sharing the throne with her mother Anne behind her, one hand on Mary's shoulder, the other gesturing toward Jesus. Three winged angels (women) above the throne and two angels hold swinging censers to the side of the throne. The painting originally hung in the Church of Sant'Ambrogio in Florence.
This painting was originally in the church of Sant’Ambrogio, which was once connected to a Benedictine woman’s monastery. Mary is depicted as a meditative figure, sitting in an introspective pose. She is perhaps the kind of Marian image that these Benedictine nuns would have desired.
While Mary was a common subject of Renaissance Florentine art, here, she is also portrayed with St. Anne. In ancient Italian, Sant’Anna Metterza meant “St. Anne as the third figure.” Since the artist depicts Mary with her mother, this may symbolize the female genealogy of Christ. Christ sits on Mary, in front of her womb, and Mary sits between the legs of St. Anne. St. Anne birthed Mary who then birthed Christ. Anne outstretches her arm over the head of Christ, as if to protect him. Christ is protected by his grandmother and mother. However, his hand lays upon Mary’s, guiding her. Indeed, Mary is child of her mother and her own son.
While Mary was a common subject of Renaissance Florentine art, here, she is also portrayed with St. Anne. In ancient Italian, Sant’Anna Metterza meant “St. Anne as the third figure.” Since the artist depicts Mary with her mother, this may symbolize the female genealogy of Christ. Christ sits on Mary, in front of her womb, and Mary sits between the legs of St. Anne. St. Anne birthed Mary who then birthed Christ. Anne outstretches her arm over the head of Christ, as if to protect him. Christ is protected by his grandmother and mother. However, his hand lays upon Mary’s, guiding her. Indeed, Mary is child of her mother and her own son.
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