The Altar of St. Anne was erected in 1724 and architecturally complements the altar of St. John Nepomucene on the opposite side. It is more restrained than the pair behind it, yet less conventional than the two in front. Instead of columns, the structure is supported by white marble statues of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Catherine of Alexandria, sculpted by Francesco Robba, one of the most prominent Baroque sculptors in Ljubljana. The altar table (mensa) features a trapezoidally widening stipes, richly adorned with volute-shaped foliage and cherubic heads. Two pairs of pedestals flank the mensa, the inner ones decorated with angel heads that extend into fruit-like volutes (fructones).
In the central niche is a painting of St. Anne teaching the young Mary to read, while Joachim watches. The work is by Bartolomeo Letterini, a leading Venetian painter of the 18th century. Beside the image stand Robba’s statues of the two female saints, and on the side volutes kneel lively angel figures with outstretched wings. The volutes continue upward into pilasters topped with Corinthian capitals that support an elaborately tiered entablature. Above the statues of the saints are additional capitals held by angel heads and fructones, which also decorate the arch above the central painting.
The attic mirrors the altar’s structure with diagonal volutes and ends with a pronounced cornice. At its peak sits a putto holding a scroll inscribed SANCTA ANNA, flanked by angels with the phrases INTERCEDE / PRO NOBIS. In the center of the attic is an oval painting of St. Ulrich (Urh), recalling the earlier altar dedicated to the Holy Confessors. In 1720, the floor above the crypt collapsed, and the remains had to be temporarily relocated. In 1724, the crypt was repaired and the current altar was installed.
Until recently, the altar displayed The Death of St. Ursula, a painting by Ivan Grohar (1900/01), created for the Diocesan Confraternity of St. Ursula for a Happy Death, founded in 1899. The painting now hangs on the pilaster opposite the altar.
St. Anne, patron saint of mothers, married couples, fertility, and widows, is celebrated on July 26. St. Mary Magdalene (July 22) was the first woman to follow Jesus. St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25), one of the most frequently depicted saints, is the patroness of students, teachers, and women.
