Carved Figures of Saint Joachim (San Joaquín) and Saint Anne (Santa Ana)

The small carved figures forming the iconographic pair of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne with the Virgin Child are currently housed in the Sacramental Chapel.

Their original provenance, however, is presumed to lie in the altarpiece formerly dedicated to Saint Christina (Santa Cristina) and now to Saint Joseph (San José), located in the chapel of the same name, in the nave of the Epistleof the Parish Church of Saint John (parroquia de San Juan).

These small sculptures, which according to the old system of measurement are close to three quarters of a Castilian vara in height, are finished with an oil-polished surface and gold estofado decoration (estofado en oro). They display a markedly refined and precious character, notwithstanding their function as altarpiece figures and the elevated position they originally occupied within it.

This elevated placement may be inferred from the disproportion between the heads and the bodies. As a distinctive feature, and in keeping with Sevillian tradition, both figures are represented seated, each accompanied by their respective attributes. Saint Joachim (San Joaquín) has lost his staff but retains the lamb, while Saint Anne (Santa Ana) holds a scroll upon which the Virgin (Virgen) is shown learning to read or write, as suggested by the position of her hands.

Both images reveal a clear Roldanesque lineage (raigambre roldanesca), especially in the handling of the draperies and in the treatment of the locks of hair.

The restoration of these works would be highly desirable, in order to allow their chromatic qualities to be properly appreciated.