Page 3 My Art History Site

Art History - The Renaissance

The "Annunciation" was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1472 A.D. (Krausse, 1995).The medium of this work of art is oil on wood, and it is on display at the Galleria degli Uffizi, in Florence (Krausse, 1995). This painting is a depiction of the angel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary to announce that Mary will bear a son and his name shall be called Jesus. Notice that Leonardo chose to have the scene occur outdoors in Mary's garden outside her house wherein one can see a landscape and trees in the background. Mary is sitting down, and she is sewing. Leonardo uses some bright colors (red, brilliant blue, and gold) and the sky is a light, off-white color.The face of Mary and the angel Gabriel show clearly and brilliantly in the outdoor natural lighting. Perhaps Leonardo was conveying through light and color the essense of the miracle, the spirituality, and the inspiration of the scene. It is significant that the angel Gabriel is kneeling before Mary. This kneeling gesture signifies reverence for Mary's purity and is an acknowledgement that she was chosen by God. Mary is painted as a beautiful, young girl, with no spot nor imperfection whatsoever. Her physical beauty is symbolic of her inner character.

Reference:

Krausse, Anna C. (1995). The Story of Painting From the Renaissance to the Present. Hong Kong: Konemann.