Naples, 18th century, Education of Mary

Naples, 18th century The Education of Mary Terracotta with traces of polychromy, 26.5x20.5x12 cm This terracotta sculpture is a typical example of Neapolitan domestic devotion in the 18th century. The group depicts the Education of the Virgin, a theme deeply cherished in local tradition, rendered here with an almost theatrical immediacy. The structure is solid, with Saint Anne seated, holding an open book for her daughter. The most distinctive and fascinating aspect of the sculpture, however, lies in the characterization of the faces, particularly that of Saint Anne. Adhering to a precise aesthetic of the Neapolitan school of the 18th century, the artist chooses not to idealize the Saint, but to portray her with extreme realism that borders on the grotesque. The deep wrinkles, pronounced profile, and almost caricatural expression are not signs of technical ineptitude, but rather the peak of an expressive quest for "truth of nature".