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Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
The Annunciation
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
© Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami. All rights reserved.

The Annunciation

Artist/Maker (Italy, 1373-1452)
Dateca. 1435-1440
Mediumtempera and oil on panel
DimensionsSight: 57 3/4 x 57 in. (146.7 x 144.8 cm)
Framed: 64 x 64 x 3 1/2 in. (162.6 x 162.6 x 8.9 cm)
ClassificationsVisual Works
Credit LineGift of Colonel C. Michael Paul
Terms
    Object number69.042.000
    DescriptionThe Annunciation was one of the most popular subjects of Italian Medieval and Renaissance religious painting because of its doctrinal significance as the moment of the Incarnation, the embodiment of Christ in human form. This large rectangular altarpiece, painting for an unknown church in Tuscany, represents the last phase of the Annunciation drama, following the Virgin's initial reaction of fear and hesitation to Gabriel's pronouncement that she was to be the mother of Christ. The inscription at the bottom of the painting provides the textual source for the events: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy words" (Luke 1:38). The Virgin's humble acceptance of her destiny is indicated by her posture: her head is bowed and her hands are crossed upon her breast. Mary's thoughts are recorded on the pages of the open book on the reading stand in front of her: "My soul [doth magnify] the Lord and my spirit hath rejoined [in God my savior]" (Luke: 1:46-47). The golden rays that extent from the upper righthand corner of the composition are those of the Holy Spirit (in the form of a white dove), sent as a sign of divine love by God the Father (whose figure was obliterated when the painting was cut down approximately five inches at the right). The rectangular format of The Annunciation, the classicizing architecture, and the antique lettering used for the inscriptions demonstrate that Bicci was affected to a limited degree by contemporary Renaissance innovations.
    On View
    Not on view
    Collections
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
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