Artwork

St. Anna, accompanied by St. Peter and St. Anthony of Padua, instructs the young Mary in reading the Holy Bible

St. Anna, accompanied by St. Peter and St. Anthony of Padua, instructs the young Mary in reading the Holy Bible is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Giambattista Pittoni. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Anthony of Padua, instructs the young Mary in reading the Holy Bible" and was created by Giambattista Pittoni in 1748.

This painting shows a woman sitting on a pedestal, surrounded by three other people. She is wearing a long white robe and has a book in her lap. The people around her are also dressed in long robes, and one of them is kneeling on the ground.

The woman is pointing to the book, and the people around her seem to be looking at it with interest. The background of the painting is dark, which makes the figures stand out.

The painting is called "St. Anna, accompanied by St. Peter and St. Anthony of Padua, instructs the young Mary in reading the Holy Bible" and was created by Giambattista Pittoni in 1748. To learn more about this style of painting, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.

Overview

This 1748 painting by Giambattista Pittoni depicts a scene of religious instruction, showcasing the artist's skill in composition and use of light.

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates Saint Anne teaching the young Virgin Mary to read the Holy Bible, with Saints Peter and Anthony of Padua in attendance, highlighting a pivotal moment in Christian tradition.

Technique & Style

Pittoni's work exemplifies the Rococo style, characterized by delicate and ornate elements, and employs chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume.

History & Provenance

Giambattista Pittoni, a Venetian painter and co-founder of the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, created this painting in 1748, later serving as the academy's second president in 1758.