Joaquim Machado de Castro was undoubtedly the most important Portuguese sculptor from the baroque period. Although he was best known for the monumental statues that he created, he also left the imprint of his talent on smaller pieces used for devotional purposes.

Besides displaying his skill in the dynamic treatment of the figures and the agitated folds of their garments, this sculpture of St. Anne Teaching the Virgin Mary to Read illustrates how the work was divided up at the largest sculpture workshop existing in Portugal at that time.