Meeting of Anne and Joachim at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem
by CAVALLINO, Bernardo, Oil on canvas, 239 x 179 cm
Two different episodes from the life of Mary’s parents are illustrated in this painting. In the foreground we find the encounter of the life-sized figures, the smaller size figures in the background illustrate the angel’s annunciation that Joachim is about to become a father.
The painting is one of the rare examples of compositions with life-sized figures by the artist, known chiefly for small and medium-sized formats throughout his career. Formerly the painting was attributed to various Spanish painters as well as the Neapolitan Massimo Stanzione.