BwB Museums & Decolonialism

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Master of Sinovas Altarpiece in Honor of Saint Anne Burgos, Spain, 1503 Tempera on wood, carved and gilded wood frame 339 x 253 cm Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta Buenos Aires, Argentina Created in 1503 by the Master of Sinovas, The Altarpiece in Honor of Saint Anne exemplifies the late Gothic style prevalent in Spain during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. Inspired by the Apocryphal Gospels, the altarpiece depicts scenes from Saint Anne's life and reflects the theological debates of the time, particularly the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The Altarpiece was photographed and included in the Golden Book of the Universal and International Exposition in Ghent, Belgium, in 1913. Twenty-six countries participated in the Exposition. Shortly after, it was purchased by Argentine collector Enrique Larreta from the antique dealer Demotte in Paris. The original altarpiece location featured Renaissance doors made of carved, gilded, and polychrome wood. These doors were adorned with the coat of arms of the family of the Bishop of Burgo de Osma, Don Alonso Fonseca Quijada. The altarpiece, featured in the exhibition, originated from the church of San Nicolás de Bari in Sinovas, located in Aranda del Duero, Burgos. It was illicitly sold by the parish priest, who intended to use the funds for church repairs and renovations. This illegal act resulted in his imprisonment on fraud charges. Despite media demands for its repatriation, the sale was legal under the prevailing legislation of the time. This legal framework encouraged such transactions due to the high demand for Spanish art in the international market. The definitive version of the triple iconography of Saint Anne emerged in Flanders and southern Germany around the mid-15th century. This depiction features Saint Anne holding a book (representing the Old Testament), the Virgin Mary on her right, and the naked Child between them, all figures on the same scale. This motif led to the theme "The Education of the Virgin," which gained popularity due to the spread of Saint Anne's cult toward the end of the Middle Ages.