St.Anne--a head of the same type as St.Joseph's, and as those of two angels on the same frontal, standing by St.Nicasius, with his head cut off at the brows--St.Anne with a smiling, arch expression and yet elderly--a sharp little chin, large eyes, a thin, long, pointed nose, the look of a youthful duena, kindly but knowing.
"But, indeed, those image-makers excelled in creating these singular, indefinable countenances.

Do you recall Our Lady of Paris, later, I believe, by a century?
She is scarcely pretty, but so expressive, with the smile of happiness parting such melancholy lips.

Seen from one side She is smiling at Jesus, watchful, almost sportive; it would seem as though she were waiting for the Child to say some merry word before laughing out; She is a girl-mother, not yet accustomed to her Child's caress.

Seen from another angle, this smile, apparently in the bud, has vanished.

The mouth is puckered in sorrow, and promises tears.
"Perhaps when he succeeded in stamping on the face of Our Lady two such opposite expressions of peace and of fear, the sculptor intended to suggest at once the joy of the Nativity and the anticipated anguish of Calvary.