1437 A.D.
The Annunciation, 1437-1446
Fra Angelico
Convent of San Marco, Florence, Italy
The Annunciation (the announcement) is that key moment in Christian history when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces that she will give birth to a son by miraculous means.
Fra Angelico, monk and artist of the 15th century, frescoed (meaning painted on wet plaster) The Annunciation, one of the most revered masterpieces of all time. Artists down the centuries have been mightily influenced by this classic work.
_______________
600 years later, 2017
Annunciation 2, after Fra Angelico, 2017
David Hockney
David Hockney, the great 80-year-old British artist, reports that during his first year in art school he came upon Fra Angelico’s painting of The Annunciation. He was stunned by its beauty and symmetry. Sixty years later, he is still painting his interpretation of this masterpiece.
_______________
1907-1914 Cubism and Picasso astonishes art world
Annunciation, 1934
Roy de Maistre
Private collection, Switzerland
Cubism (objects and figures radically fragmented) heavily influenced Australian artist Roy de Maistre in his painting Annunciation.
_______________
1961-2030 Pop art transcends to fine art
The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal, 2012
Grayson Perry
Woven tapestry in wool, silk, cotton, acrylic and polyester, Currell Collection
Grayson Perry, 60, tackles subjects that are universally human: religion, identity, gender, social status, and sexuality. He tries to deal with them with humor yet with a sense of the sacred.
The Annunciation is filled with symbols! Watch this…
Click here if you are unable to view the video.
I feel like you brought the Christmas Spirit into focus, so thanks! I loved pausing long enough in the day to look carefully at all three pieces. And the video gave a big boost to my art education. Made me want to run right over to the Prado. The Perry work is a challenge to see and “get” all the aspects of his story there. But I’ll enjoy coming back to it and the other images. Merry Christmas Kirby and to all you bloggers, too! Lydia
Really looking at these paintings is so rewarding, Lydia! I am glad they have challenged you. Let’s meet at the Prado! Merry Christmas!
It is a tribute to Fra Angelico that he could inspire even the likes of Picasso and other cubists to look again at Jesus’ annunciation. And it is a tribute to you, Kirby, to have invited us to do the same. Thank you, and MERRY CHRISTMAS.
A classic is a classic, isn’t it David?! Merry Christmas to you in Santa Fe!!
Thank you, Kirby. This is terrific!
It would be a good assignment—- everyone has an opinion on that moment. Thanks for the art history peek.
Thanks for peeking, Merry! Feliz Navidad!
Hi Kirby….love your art Blog….thanks for sending…interesting how Hckney was influenced…..
Yes…Hockney never forgot his experience with Fra Angelico’s “Annunciation.” David Hockney has a major retrospective exhibition going on now at the Met in NYC. Thanks for writing, Kate!
How wonderful to see how beautifully preserved the fresco in the convent is! Or maybe it’s restored? But it is a beauty!
Yes, Margo, it is remarkable that it is in such good condition. It is outside too!….but in a corridor with an deep overhang. Thank you, for following my blog. I always enjoy your comments! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Kirby. I learned so much from this posting and it is a great holiday gift to the community.
Thank you Susan for reading my art blog and your encouragement. Our community is a wonderful gift, is it not?
Happy Holidays,
Kirby
irbita,
I love the blog, so appropriate for this Season and so informative about The Annunciation.
It’s wonderful to see all the wildly different interpretaions from different artists of this “wonderous event”!
Thanks for the images and video, and for educating us about how this event has surfaced again and again throughout the centuries through art.
Your love of art and spirit shines through!
Love and Blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda,
“Wild” is a good way to describe this wondrous art! It makes me very happy to share the love of art!
Merry Christmas!
Kirby
Thank you Kirby for sharing with us the truly amazing world of painting. I am blessed to have met you all those Graham Nickson Painting Marathons ago! You continue to inspire me!
All the best to you always!
Tina
I am very grateful to share this amazing world of painting with you also, Tina! Thank you for following my art blog.
Love this! A good reminder of the meaning of the season! XoxoxoxxoxooxxK
I just love your blogs. Thanks so much for starting up again.
Thank you, Alexandra! Your new work is awesome!
Kirby.
Thank you
Always professional, interesting and educational.
Every Good Wish for a Merry Christmas Season!
Lou Burgess SMU ’64
Hey Lou, It is always a pleasure for me when you read and comment on my art blog. I research a ton so to make the piece as accurate and interesting as possible. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you!
As always, your postings are just so interesting and timely. Thank you and Feliz Navidad!