Gerolamo dai Libri – The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne Part 3 National Gallery UK

Here we observe a devotional composition centered around three female figures: a young woman holding an infant, seated beside an older woman who stands slightly behind her. The younger woman is draped in rich fabrics – a crimson gown with gold brocade sleeves and a violet mantle – while the elder wears a similar cloak of deep blue. The child nestled within the embrace of the younger woman appears serene, his gaze directed outward.
The setting is carefully constructed to suggest both intimacy and grandeur. A lush citrus tree dominates the upper portion of the scene, its branches laden with fruit; this detail likely carries symbolic weight related to abundance or spiritual nourishment. Behind the figures stretches a landscape – a distant town nestled within rolling hills, bordered by a river – rendered in muted tones that create depth and perspective. A low wicker fence separates the foreground from the background, establishing a visual barrier between the sacred space of the women and the world beyond.
Four small figures populate the lower portion of the painting: angelic beings engaged in musical activities. One reads from an open book, another plays a lute, while two others appear to be listening attentively. Their presence contributes to the overall atmosphere of piety and reverence.
The composition’s arrangement suggests familial relationships – mother, daughter, and granddaughter – though the precise nature of these connections remains ambiguous without further contextual information. The older womans posture, slightly withdrawn yet protective, implies a role of guidance or blessing. The younger woman’s direct gaze establishes a connection with the viewer, inviting contemplation and devotion.
The artist employed a restrained palette, favoring deep blues, reds, and golds that lend an air of solemnity to the scene. Light falls gently upon the figures, highlighting their faces and emphasizing the textures of their garments. The overall effect is one of quiet dignity and spiritual grace, indicative of a work intended for private devotion or display within a domestic setting.