The Annunciation 1545

Domenico Beccafumi's "The Annunciation" (1545) depicts the Virgin Mary in a dramatic, yet delicate, pose. The sculpture, made from a pale wood, captures Mary's surprise and wonder as the Angel Gabriel (not pictured) delivers the news of her impending motherhood. Beccafumi's work, while influenced by Renaissance ideals, exhibits a distinct Sienese sensibility, evident in the graceful lines and soft, almost ethereal, treatment of the figure. This piece offers a powerful example of how the Annunciation theme was explored in High Renaissance sculpture.