Saint Anne, wrapped in a voluminous white bonnet and veil, gazes outward with wide, solemn eyes from the upper left of the composition. Her right hand rests gently on the shoulder of the Virgin Mary, who sits closely beside her, head bowed and eyes closed in serene devotion. Mary's hands are clasped in prayer just above the sleeping Christ Child, whose delicate features and softly curled hair are rendered with meticulous detail.

The Christ Child lies peacefully at the lower left, his lips parted and cheeks flushed, his small hand resting against his mother's fingers. A deep green background sets off the luminous flesh tones and the shimmering folds of Saint Anne's drapery, while the Virgin's robe glows with subtle shades of rose and blue. Light falls from the left, highlighting the intricate textures of fabric and skin, and casting gentle shadows that model the figures in three dimensions.

The three figures are closely grouped, their forms overlapping to create an intimate triangular composition that draws attention to the bond between generations. Fine cracks in the paint surface, known as craquelure, are visible throughout the lighter areas, especially on Saint Anne's veil and the Virgin's neck. The lower right corner of the painting is filled with the Virgin’s blue mantle, which is rendered with subtle shading and a soft, velvety texture.

The background is a uniform, matte green with slight variations in tone, and it lacks any architectural or landscape elements. Light catches the edges of the Christ Child’s curls and the folds of Saint Anne’s veil, creating a gentle contrast against the deep shadow beneath Mary’s chin and along the left side of her face. Virgin and Child with Saint Anne was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1519, during the height of the German Renaissance. The work was originally painted on a linden panel and later transferred to canvas, a process that reflects its complex history of conservation and restoration.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art now holds the painting, where it is recognized as a significant example of Dürer's late religious art.