The Anunciation c. 16th century

This is "The Annunciation" a 16th-century enamel painting by Nardon Penicaud. It captures the moment the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a son. Mary is often shown with a book, symbolising knowledge and scripture, while the Angel Gabriel extends a lily, a symbol of purity and love. The motif of the Annunciation has been depicted across cultures, from early Christian mosaics to Renaissance panels. Think of the raised hand gesture, often seen in depictions of both Mary and Gabriel – a visual echo of classical oratory, conveying surprise, acceptance, and divine communication. The symbol of the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, is a motif that recurs in different guises, in Egyptian art as a soul taking flight or in the ancient Greek stories as Aphrodite's animal. This cyclical transformation highlights the emotional and psychological power of such imagery. The image resonates with the viewer in a deeply buried symbolic language, a testament to the enduring power of the human psyche.