The Annunciation 1400 - 1449

This anonymous artwork depicts a scene from the Annunciation, a pivotal moment in Christian tradition where the Angel Gabriel reveals to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of God. The painting, created sometime between 1400 and 1449, is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition features the angel appearing above Mary, who is seated in a room, with the exterior of the building visible. The inclusion of a deer, symbolizing purity, in the background adds a layer of symbolic meaning to the piece. The use of gold leaf and delicate linework are hallmarks of this period of art history, demonstrating the artist's skillful technique.