Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Annunciation


(click to enlarge)
Edward Burne-Jones
(English, 1833-1898)
The Annunciation, 1876-1879
Oil on canvas

I love paintings of the Annunciation because there are so many different interpretations of it. This painting is very different from the usual ones, it's more solemn for one thing, and the composition is very creative. Definitely check out the details, especially the relief on the wall above her head (it's of the expulsion from the garden of Eden).

3 comments:

  1. One I've seen before! Yay!
    This is sooo pretty. Notice also the pitcher. I know it's significant of something, I just forgot what. And I'm almost positive the Gabriel is standing on an olive tree. Which I think is just important because they show up so often in Scripture.

    -Katie

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  2. Hey, while you're on a roll with the Annunciation paintings, check out the one by Botticelli (my personal favorite) and one I just now noticed while looking for the Botticelli, by Henry Ossawa Tanner. It's really, really different from most.
    -Katie [again]

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  3. I'll definitely check out those paintings!
    You noticed the pitcher! Pitchers and water often appear in paintings of the Annunciation because they symbolize purity. :)

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