Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin Mary - Crispijn van de Passe (I)

A detailed 17th-century engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (I) depicting Saint Anne instructing the young Virgin Mary in a domestic setting.

This engraving by the Dutch master Crispijn van de Passe (I) depicts the traditional subject of Saint Anne instructing the young Virgin Mary. The composition focuses on the domestic intimacy of the scene, with Saint Anne seated in a high-backed chair, gesturing towards an open book held by the young Mary. The artist employs precise, controlled lines to define the folds of their garments and the architectural elements of the background.

Van de Passe was a prolific printmaker whose work circulated widely across Europe. His technical proficiency in engraving allowed for a high degree of detail, visible here in the subtle shading of the figures and the architectural perspective visible through the window. The inclusion of Latin text at the base of the print, 'ANNA VIRGINIS MATER', provides a formal identification of the subjects, a common practice in devotional prints of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The presence of small, winged cherub heads integrated into the chair design adds a decorative element characteristic of the period's aesthetic.

This work reflects the Northern Mannerist style, which often combined religious themes with a sophisticated approach to form and space. The figures are rendered with a sense of weight and volume, while the background architecture provides a structured environment that frames the interaction between the two figures. The print serves as an example of the high quality of Dutch printmaking during this era, demonstrating the artist's ability to balance narrative clarity with technical refinement. The monochromatic palette of the engraving emphasises the linear quality of the work, allowing the viewer to focus on the interaction and the symbolic nature of the education depicted.