Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read, Circle or workshop of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Seville, 1617–1682

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Title:

Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read (Spanish: Santa Ana enseñando a leer a la Virgen; English: Saint Anne … Read more Title:

Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read (Spanish: Santa Ana enseñando a leer a la Virgen; English: Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read)

Attribution: Circle or workshop of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Seville, 1617–1682)

Dating: Mid to late 17th century (approximately 1650–1680)

Technique: Oil on canvas

Condition: Visible craquelure (age-related cracks in the paint layer), patina, and slight dirt, consistent with a 17th-century age. No signs of major restorations or damage on visible parts; professional cleaning and examination under UV/IR light recommended.
of the Motif and Composition:
An intimate religious scene depicts Saint Anne (an older woman in a green mantle over a blue dress), holding an open book and pointing into it, and the young Virgin Mary (a girl in a pink-and-white dress), praying with hands clasped and gaze directed upward in an expression of devotion. The background is dark, with soft and diffuse light in the "vaporoso" style, emphasizing the emotional connection between the figures. A fictional date of 1514 is visible on the open book, likely a symbolic addition for realism (linked to the tradition of illuminated prayer books from the time of Anne of Brittany).
The motif is extremely popular in Spanish Baroque art, based on apocryphal gospels, and emphasizes Marian devotion as well as education.
Comparison with Known Works:
The painting is very close to the original by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo from around 1655, which hangs in the Museo del Prado (Madrid; inv. no. P000968; dimensions: 219 × 165 cm). The Prado version includes additional elements (e.g., little angels with a floral crown and a sewing basket), which are absent in this variation—typical of simplified workshop versions

Presented in an ornate gilded frame with elaborate Baroque/Rococo carvings (likely added later in the 18th century). See less