Madonna of the Dry Tree.

Petrus Christus, the artist and his wife were the members of the Brotherhood of Madonna of the Dry Tree, a religious society in Bruges, which was engaged in charity and were devoted to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin. The society existed from 1396 and united aristocracy and clergy. This small painting was most probably a home altarpiece of a society member. This depiction was illustrating the verse by the Prophet Ezekiel (17:24)

“All the trees of the countryside will know that it is I, the Lord, who bring low the tall tree and raise the lowly tree high, who shrived up the green tree and make the shriveled tree put forth buds. I, the Lord, have spoken; I shall do it.”

These verses were interpreted in the medieval theology, as indication at barren St. Anna, who gave birth to St. Maria. The golden ‘A’ letters, which hang among the dry branches, symbolized 15 times Ave Maria. The work was painted between 1460-1473.