In a portico full of lights and colors we are the spectators of the encounter between two mysterious characters. Both seem shy but aware of what is about to happen, they tilt their heads and fold their hands. This painting, so sweet, deep and rich in dominant colors, represents one of the defining moments of the Christian tradition. Today we discover the Annunciation by Beato Angelico in the version kept at the Prado in Madrid.
The work is created as a devotional table for the altar of San Domenico in Fiesole, near Florence. And it does not only tell of the moment of the Annunciation but also of other episodes. One in particular is visible behind the Angel and is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Other episodes relating to the story of Mary's life are told in the predella below the work.
The predella is a horizontal band, therefore a real panel depicting religious scenes. And it was often made at the base of a polyptych or an altarpiece as a real part of the work. If we imagine it as a story it is as if they were introductory chapters of a book that better explain the heart of the story and introduce us to the characters. In this case, the life of Mary who is one of the protagonists of the image.
The two protagonists are Mary and the archangel Gabriel. To her left a diagonal ray of light falls on her Mary, illuminating her very intense blue cloak and her peach pink dress.
This divine light that crosses the painting diagonally represents the almighty presence of God. It seems to start from a sun on the left and then the golden ray touches the golden halo of the archangel and spreads in front of Mary. Within this ray of light a white dove is descending, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which marks the moment of conception.
The face of Mary is painted as that of a shy young woman and perhaps a little frightened by the situation. Furthermore, the pose of Mary, with her hands crossed, symbolizes her submission to God's will.
On the other side of the central column is the archangel Gabriel. He wears a golden and pink robe of a similar shade to Mary's dress. The halo around his head was made with a worked gold leaf, browned then made darker in practice. This halo so cured has the purpose of strengthening the divinity of the character, who is ultimately the messenger of God. From his back two wings are born, also these of a golden color and super detailed. Each feather is carefully depicted and it almost feels like you can feel the weight of these wings on her back.
The tips of Gabriele's wings end up outside the portico on the left and allow us to shift our gaze to another scene. This time a scene from Genesis, the first book of the Bible. It is about the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, an episode that adds a lot of drama to the entire painting and that gives more information: Christ will in fact be born on earth to save humanity from original sin.
Two other interesting details are found in the central scene. Above the central column of the portico is the sculpted head of a bearded man. This is an image of God, the Father who sees and knows everything.
Perched on the central column, above the heads of Mary and Gabriel and immediately below the image of God, instead there is a swallow. This probably symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.
Finally, from the point of view of composition, the two figures of Mary and Gabriel complement each other thanks to the play of curves of their positions. This precious work shows the marked observation skills and skill of Fra Angelico. The use of light, bright colors and the naturalness of the poses make the characters quite realistic. And then, moreover, the architectural structure created with the columns and with the open room at the back give a sense of depth and create the impression that both figures are within a real and physical space.
00:00 Intro
00:36 History
01:27 Predella
01:55 Details
07:17 Theme
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Art and the Cities is my personal blog and KZread channel about art and travel. Or better than art trips. I'm not only talking about art history but also about travel, museums, galleries, art market, love stories, books, exhibitions and much more.
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Clelia
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