The Annunciation under the Arch with Lilies 1913

Maurice Denis’s *The Annunciation under the Arch with Lilies* (1913) portrays the biblical scene of the Angel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Set in an architectural space with an arch framing a view of a distant town, the scene is rendered in a soft, hazy palette characteristic of Symbolism and Nabis art, suggesting a sense of divine mystery and serenity. The painting is notable for its evocative use of light and color, particularly in the depiction of the angel’s wings, the blue robe of the Virgin Mary, and the delicate lilies, symbols of purity and hope.