Explore the History and description of this artwork.
The painting represents the episode of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, as ordered by the law of Moses, which Mary and Joseph did with Jesus. Simeon the priest and Anna the prophetess are other characters in the episode narrated by the Gospel of Luke.
The scene takes place in an environment with classical architecture, and an altar in the background surrounded by two columns, of which only the shaft and base are seen. In the center, Simeon, the old priest, dressed with a bright red tunic, holds the Child Jesus to whom he gives his blessing. Jesus looks to the viewer joyfully and also gives a blessing with His right hand. Joseph, depicted as beardless, unlike most representations, stands on the left and Mary on the right, who looks tenderly to Jesus. Behind there are two female figures, one of whom is the prophetess Anna. On the altar there is an altarpiece with the representation of Moses.
The leisurely rhythm, the fullness of colour, the volumes and the monumental grandeur of the characters make this work an excellent example of the painter's style and, more generally, of the San Marco school whose undisputed exponent was Fra Bartolomeo.
Fra Bartolomeo Gospel of Luke