Bruges, early 16th century Triptych: The lineage of Saint Anne; two side panels depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata and Saint John the Evangelist introducing a Poor Clare at prayer Oil on oak panels, set in their original frames Side panels: 32.5 x 9 cm Total open dimensions: 39 x 61 cm The reverse of the shutters painted in imitation green marble Triptych: The lineage of Saint Anne, two side panels representing Saint Francis receiving the stigmata and Saint John evangelist with a clarisse in prayer, oil on panels, Bruges, early 16th century 30 x 22 cm (11.81 x 8.66 in.) Comment: This work must have been commissioned by the donor in prayer depicted on the right-hand panel of the triptych, who appears to be a Poor Clare introduced by Saint John. The presence of Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata on the left side panel seems to confirm this hypothesis. This work is an original combination of the representation of Saint Anne in the Trinity, depicted as usual carrying the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus on her lap, and that of the Holy Family, which, although close to the iconography of the Tree of Jesse, is presented here without any branches. Around Saint Anne are depicted her husbands and her descendants. This line of descent was first described by Aymon d'Halberstadt in the 9th century in his Historiae sacrae epitome, in which 17 people were listed, and was later taken up by Jacques de Voragine in the Légende dorée. On the right are Elizabeth and John the Baptist, and below them, Cleophas and Mary Cleopas, with little James Minor and Joseph Jusus and Alpheus in the lower right. At the foot of the Trinitarian Saint Anne are the young Simon and Judas Tadeus. Zebedeus accompanied by Jacob the Greater are depicted on the lower left, while above them are Mary Salome and John Alba. Finally, on the upper right of the central panel are Salome, Eliud, Joseph, Joachim and what appears to be Emérencie. This traditional immaculist theme can also be seen in a painting in the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts by the Master of the Family of Saint Anne, active in Ghent around 1500-1510 (74 x 113.9 cm, inv. 1906-B) and in a work by Derick Baegert (124.3 x 154 cm, inv.: 123) in the Antwerp Museum of Fine Arts. This devotion was particularly fervent in the Netherlands around 1500.