The above painting portrays the young Jesus crushing the head of a snake, anticipating His victory over Satan. Holding Jesus is his mother, Mary. The figure on the left is Anne, the apocryphal mother of Mary.
Even though the Bible does not mention Anna and there is probably some weirdo Catholic saint stuff associated with her, I kind of like the fact that she is in the painting. After all, though Mary's mother may not have been named Anna, Mary had a mother and by depicting both women the painting reinforces the prophecy of the seed of the woman.
This painting was completed in 1606 by Carravagio. Originally, it was intended as an altar piece for St. Peter's Basilica, but was removed two days later and sold to a private collector. Apparently portraying the Virgin Mary with a low cut dress was too much for the Pope.
No doubt Jesus' nudity was another reason that the church shunned the painting. However, I wonder if it represents a return to the pre-fall state where humanity was naked and not ashamed.
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