Saint Anne

The sculptural image demonstrates the figure of Saint Anne in a subtle contrapposto, executed as a sculpture in the round with a clearly defined frontal orientation. The plasticity of the figure presents an elegant movement characteristic of the Gothic era, evident in a gentle curve that lends refinement and dynamism to the image. Anne is dressed in a red tunic, over which is draped a maphorion that envelops her head and shoulders, cascading downwards. Massive, deep undercut incisions in the drapery of the cloak form a vivid play of light and shadow. The folds gather into expressive creases with sharp and soft angles, testifying to the transition from the Gothic style to an Early Renaissance perception of volume.
The saint's hands are bent at the elbows and brought together at chest level in a gesture of adoration or the holding of a sacred attribute. The elongated proportions of the torso and the profound modelling of the forms emphasise the spiritual elevation of the image. The face of Saint Anne possesses a soft, elongated oval and is filled with a pronounced individuality. The large, almond-shaped eyes downturned with partially closed lids, the thin, clear arches of the eyebrows, the faint flush on her cheeks, and the barely perceptible smile on her lips radiate humility, serene spirituality, and maternal tenderness.
The colour scheme of the artwork is built upon a harmonious combination of the rich red-cinnabar of the tunic, the ochre-golden shades of the maphorion, and the pale carnation of the flesh. The monument vividly illustrates the synthesis of Western European Late Gothic stylistic traditions with local spiritual and aesthetic perceptions, organically combining canonical austerity with profound psychological depth and a vivid human sentiment.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery