The Annunciation c. 1720 - 1725

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this drawing, The Annunciation, with pen and brown ink, sometime between 1696 and 1770. Tiepolo, working in 18th-century Venice, was a master of the fresco and known for his grand, theatrical style which often drew on religious and mythological subjects. This drawing captures the biblical scene of the Angel Gabriel informing Mary that she will conceive and bear the son of God. What interests me most is the emotional complexity Tiepolo brings to this pivotal moment. Mary's posture is both demure and thoughtful, capturing the intimate experience of revelation. The angel's arrival, bursting into her private chamber, carries an element of disruption. In a society governed by patriarchal structures, Mary's acceptance of her fate highlights themes of submission and divine will. While this scene has often been interpreted through the lens of religious obedience, it also presents an alternative narrative of female empowerment—a woman chosen for her unique role in salvation. Through dramatic compositions like this, Tiepolo invites us to consider the tensions between destiny, personal agency, and faith.