Annunciation (Ambrogio Lorenzetti)
Encyclopedia
The Annunciation is a painting by the Italian late medieval painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti
, signed and dated 1344, now housed in the Pinacoteca Nazionale
of Siena
, Italy.
It was painted for the Ufficio della Gabella ("Office of the Tax") of the commune of Siena, as specified by two-line signature at the bottom (the painter named himself Ambruogio Lorenzi). It was originally located in the Consistory Hall of the Palazzo Pubblico
.
) explains her how the conception could happen, and in which the conception itself occurs. The angel, in fact, is saying the Latin words: Non est (erit) impossibile apud Deum omne verbum ("Nothing is impossible for God's word"), which are visible between his mouth and the Virgin's chest. The Virgin, looking upwards, replies: Ecce Ancilla Domini ("Here Is God's Maid").
The style is that of late Lorenzetti's works (after 1335) executed in Siena. The rather realistic use of geometrical perspective in the pavement is similar to that in the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (1342). The use of chiaroscuro
in the faces and the drapes shows the influence of Giotto, which he had acquired during his stay in Florence
(before 1332).
Ambrogio Lorenzetti
Ambrogio Lorenzetti was an Italian painter of the Sienese school. He was active between approximately 1317 to 1348. His elder brother was the painter Pietro Lorenzetti....
, signed and dated 1344, now housed in the Pinacoteca Nazionale
Pinacoteca Nazionale (Siena)
The Pinacoteca Nazionale is a national museum in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. Inaugurated in 1932, it houses especially late medieval and Renaissance paintings from Italian artists. It is housed in the Brigidi and Buonsignori palaces in the city's center: the former, built in the 14th century, it is...
of Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, Italy.
It was painted for the Ufficio della Gabella ("Office of the Tax") of the commune of Siena, as specified by two-line signature at the bottom (the painter named himself Ambruogio Lorenzi). It was originally located in the Consistory Hall of the Palazzo Pubblico
Palazzo Pubblico
The Palazzo Pubblico is a palace in Siena, Tuscany, central Italy. Construction began in 1297 and its original purpose was to house the republican government, consisting of the Podestà and Council of Nine....
.
Description
Lorenzetti chose for his painting an unusual moment of the Annunciation of Mary: the moment in which the angel (according to the Gospel of LukeGospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
) explains her how the conception could happen, and in which the conception itself occurs. The angel, in fact, is saying the Latin words: Non est (erit) impossibile apud Deum omne verbum ("Nothing is impossible for God's word"), which are visible between his mouth and the Virgin's chest. The Virgin, looking upwards, replies: Ecce Ancilla Domini ("Here Is God's Maid").
The style is that of late Lorenzetti's works (after 1335) executed in Siena. The rather realistic use of geometrical perspective in the pavement is similar to that in the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (1342). The use of chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro in art is "an Italian term which literally means 'light-dark'. In paintings the description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects depicted"....
in the faces and the drapes shows the influence of Giotto, which he had acquired during his stay in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
(before 1332).