Annunciation 1435

Filippo Lippi created this "Annunciation" using tempera on panel, and right away we should note the labor involved in this choice. Tempera demands meticulous preparation. Pigments must be ground, yolks separated, mixed just so. The panel itself would have been gessoed and sanded to achieve a flawlessly smooth ground for painting. These processes require immense control, yet Lippi coaxes extraordinary effects from them. Look closely, and you’ll see how he builds up layers of color to create the figures' forms. Note the angel's wings, each feather meticulously rendered with precise brushstrokes, or the subtle gradations of light and shadow on the Virgin's robes. This level of detail isn't just about technical skill. It speaks to a worldview, one in which value is found in painstaking work. Lippi elevates these craft processes to the level of high art. By recognizing and appreciating the inherent qualities of the material, and the immense labor involved in its production, we can more fully understand its meaning.