Meet Mother Mary's mother, Saint Anne. The young Virgin Mary holds an open book as her mother, Saint Anne, guides her reading. Saint Anne's teaching of her daughter is described in "The Golden Legend," a collection of popular stories about the saints. This image also reflects the use of books of hours, such as this one, as primers for children. St. Anne was considered a role model for medieval women: as a mother and a teacher, she was responsible for the education of her daughter. Books of hours were small-scale prayer books. These books were filled with lively images of saints popular in the Middle Ages in England and France. The artists depicted important events from the life and death of each holy man or woman, often setting the scenes within lush landscapes. These images would have reminded those who read the accompanying suffrages, or prayers to saints, of the exemplary lives led by these individuals. #Getty #MothersDay #VirginMary #Manuscripts