Lot 1204 Dα

Since the early Renaissance, the gold backgrounds commonly used in scenes of biblical and saintly figures were increasingly replaced by realistic landscapes, until landscape painting eventually gained respect as an independent genre. However, the costly and shimmering medium of gold leaf continued to be utilised to underline the sacred qualities of images until the end of the middle ages. It connoted an otherworldly sphere, a reference to the heavens.
In the present work, Jesus, Mary and Saint Anne appear to have been transported from heaven down to earth. This method of “humanising” sacred figures was to become more pronounced throughout the high Renaissance, for example when characters were shown in contemporary settings or attire. The use of so-called aerial perspective to depict distance is a typical characteristic of Netherlandish landscape painting of this era. Painters created the illusion of depth by allowing green elements in the foreground to gradually fade to blue.
Mary's hair is accentuated by fine, golden highlights. The narrow, embroidered hems of the ladies gowns and the golden stools also sparkle in the sunlight. Another charming detail of this work is the detailed depiction of the vegetation in the background and lower edge of the piece, achieved by the definite but very fine highlighting of individual leaves, branches and tree trunks.