Surroundings Of Francisco Díez De Tudanca (1616-1685) - Santa Ana

- Carved and gilded wood.

- This Saint Anne is fully in the stylistic tradition of Francisco Díez de Tudanca, a key figure in the transition from the austere realism of Gregorio Fernández to a more dynamic Baroque style. The master's characteristic popular gentleness shines through in his features, moving away from the penetrating mystical intensity of other disciples to offer an accessible serenity, thanks to round cheeks, a downcast gaze and a pearly complexion. The decisive element in this attribution lies in the treatment of the garments: fabric folds with clear triangular "breaks" that, while inheriting the volumetric power of Fernández's workshop, bear witness to Tudanca's dynamic, personal execution, particularly in the cloak that crosses the body.

As for its iconography and function, the position of the hand on the chest suggests St. Anne at prayer or a saint in mystical ecstasy, originally intended for a side altarpiece or small processional set for Castilian parishes. Its state of preservation is exceptional from a documentary point of view, as the high quality of the polychromy and the natural wear make it possible to study the gilding and stippling techniques typical of late Castilian Baroque, revealing the underlying gesso and wood. Attributing this work to Tudanca consistently positions it as a key testimony to a period of high religious demand in Valladolid, when Fernández's grandeur was adapted to a style much more accessible and affordable to the faithful.

- 48 cm high