11 - Flemish School. Mechelen. Circa 1500.

Flemish School. Mechelen. Circa 1500. “Saint Anne, the Virgin, and the Child” Carved and polychromed wooden sculpture. It bears the mark of Malinas nails on the back. 28.5 x 8.5 cm. The features—a clear, slightly protruding forehead, slanted eyes, and a small mouth—are characteristic of Flemish sculpture, specifically that of Mechelen. It is carved in accordance with the principles of Gothic sculptural dynamism, featuring the famous “compensatory posture,” created by the forward placement of the leg opposite the curved hip. In this way, the sculptor achieves an extraordinary effect of drapery in motion. This sculpture should be classified as a “Poupée de Malines” or “Mechelen Doll.” These were small statues of the Virgin Mary, saints, or the Christ Child that were produced in large quantities from the mid-15th century until 1515–30. They spread widely, precisely because of their size, which perfectly suited the needs of private or domestic worship. The quality of the carving, along with the rich polychrome and the sweet, gentle expression on the face, contributed to the popularity of these small sculptures. It is known that they were among the Flemish goods shipped to the Iberian Peninsula and even to more distant lands such as the Canary Islands, Latin America, and the Philippines.