Annunciation 1344

Ambrogio Lorenzetti painted this Annunciation, sometime in the 14th century, using tempera on wood, capturing a pivotal, yet intimate moment. Painted during a period of immense religious significance, this artwork depicts the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would conceive and bear the son of God. Consider the cultural context of the 1300s, a time when the church held considerable power and influenced most aspects of life. Here, Lorenzetti balances the divine with the human. Mary, caught in a moment of private devotion, appears thoughtful and receptive. Gabriel, usually depicted in triumphant flight, kneels with a sense of reverence. The checkered floor emphasizes that this momentous event occurs within a domestic sphere. The 'Annunciation' invites you to reflect on the emotional gravity of the scene and on the profound implications for those living at that time, and for us now.