Annunciatie 1501 - 1580

Giulio Bonasone created this engraving of the Annunciation in Italy, sometime in the mid-16th century. The scene depicts the angel Gabriel, here in the form of a dove, telling Mary that she will bear the son of God. Bonasone's work was produced in an age of religious upheaval. The Catholic Church was still the dominant institution in Italy, but the rise of Protestantism in other parts of Europe challenged its authority. Images like this one played an important role in reaffirming Catholic doctrine. The figure of Mary was particularly important to the Church, as she represented the possibility of divine grace working through human beings. Historical research into the social and institutional context of this image – the history of the Catholic Church, the role of art in religious devotion, the development of printmaking as a medium – can help us to understand its meaning and significance for its original audience.