The Holy Kinship

The depiction of the Virgin and Child with St Anne on the left has been extended to include further figures and may be interpreted as a representation of the the so-called Holy Kinship. This subject is based on the medieval Trinumbium legend and generally includes all of Jesus’ relations. However only a few additional figures are shown here, suggesting the panel was originally conceived as part of a triptych or similar. Joseph is depicted close to the group with the Virgin and another man standing at the right edge appears to be associated with a woman and children occupying the foreground. The architecture is not convincing and seems to have been conceived rather as a decorative element, featuring a medieval bottle glass window and a round arch. The spandrels are decorated with medallions showing an unidentified male and female portrait.

[cda 2020]