St Ann with the Virgin Mary
St Ann with the Virgin Mary

St Ann with the Virgin Mary

Author: N / A


Created, location: early 20th century; Plungė District, Kadaičiai Village.

Material / technique: wood carving, polychrome.  

Dimensions: high - 32 and 22 cm.

St Ann was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, born in Nazareth and brought up in the temple of Jerusalem. At the age of twenty she married Joachim of Nazareth and at the age of 40 she gave birth to her daughter Mary. Soon after the birth of Jesus she became a widow and died at an old age.

The subject of St Ann Teaching Mary depicts Ann sitting with an open book on her knees and a little girl, either kneeling or standing, by her side; sometimes Mary is depicted leaning over the book sitting on Ann’s lap. Ann is wearing a long robe, with a cloak over her shoulders and a veil or a scarf on her head. Usually the colours of religious iconography are ignored and rather than painting St Ann’s dress in red, it is blue or green, while the cloak is not only green, but also blue or yellow. Sometimes both are depicted wearing crowns which show their exceptional status.

In the land of the Jews, the town of Nazareth, there was a rich man called Joachim; he had a wife called Ann who for a long time did not have children. Both were of royal descent, both were devout, were not extravagant with their riches, and supported the poor, often offered sacrifices in honour of God. /.../ The Lord heard their prayer and St Ann gave birth to her daughter, called Mary. She was bringing up the girl with the fear of God, taught her to write and all other good things not only in words, but with her own example. She brought up the Virgin Mary so that she was worthy to become the Mother of God. (Motiejus Valančius „Žyvatai šventųjų“, Raštai 3, p. 305)

Reference: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, Kat. No, P. 252.

Exhibition: Exhibition of the collection of Lithuanian art of dr. Jaunius Gumbis "Collected and Preserved", September 2016 - January 2017, National Museum of Lithuania, Vilnius.

Published: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, Kat. No, P. 254; "The traditional folk sculptures collection of Gediminas Petraitis".  Ed. Marytė Slušinskaitė. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2012, P. 155.