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The Annunciation of the Mother of God, painted by Jyrki Pouta
Authors: Karoliina Karttu, Heidi Hummastenniemi, Leticia Tinajero and Netta Lipsonen
This Annunciation icon was painted for the orthodox church of Jyväskylä during the years 2001-2005 by
the icon painter Jyrki Pouta. It’s one of the twelve icons representing the main feasts of the Orthodox
Church. The first feast is the annunciation of the Mother of God on the 25th of March.
The Evangelist Luke writes about the moment of Annunciation in his Gospel (Luke 1:26-38). Archangel
Gabriel descends to Nazareth and announces to Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she
will give birth to the son of God called Jesus.
Description
Main characters in this icon are the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary who together occupy the
foreground of the picture plane.
Virgin Mary wears a red kerchief. There are three stars on her garments (forehead and shoulders) that
symbolize her virginity before, during and after the birth of Christ (see Fig. 2). Under the kerchief she has a
long blue tunic. There is a golden halo around her head. Her head is bowed as if in agreement and humility
before the task that God has given her. In her left hand she holds a spindle of yarn because she was,
according to the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, chosen to renew the curtain of the Temple of
Jerusalem. The red yarn on the spindle is a symbol of the incarnating Christ (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Archangel Gabriel wears a red phelomion over a blue stole. Angel’s left wing is behind his back and the right
wing points upwards implying that he has just landed to the ground. His feet are shown in a position
indicating movement; he has just come from the Heavens (Fig. 4). Gabriel’s right hand is lifted towards Mary
as he delivers the message and announces the blessing bestowed upon her by God (Fig. 3). In his left hand
Archangel holds a thin baton as a symbol of a messenger. It can also symbolize his duty as a soldier of heaven
or it may be a staff which he uses to measure people’s sins. He also has a golden halo around his head.
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
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There are two high buildings on the background of the icon, symbolizing the Temple of Jerusalem. A large
red fabric from one roof to another indicates that the situation is happening inside. This type of architectural
backgrounds came to the icons from the ancient Greek theatre settings. At the top of the icon there’s a
segment of a blue circle which represents heaven. From heaven descends Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
The dove has a golden halo. Three light-blue coloured rays (Trinity) point towards Mary and one of them
touches her shoulder. This is how the mystery of conception is portrayed. Green colour on the ground might
symbolize the beginning of a new life.
Written texts in the icon are "Enkelin ilosanoma Neitsyt Marialle" which in Finnish means “the Annunciation
of the Mother of God” and four letters in Greek next to Virgin Mary that mean Mary, the Most-Holy
Theotokos.
Measurements of the icon are 100 cm x 79 cm and the frame is 4, 5 cm wide. Height of Mary is 58 cm as
Gabriel’s is 60 cm. The building on the left is 66 cm and the building on the right is 67 cm. The icon has been
painted with natural pigments, such as ultramarine, cinnabar, ochre and of course gold. The overall colour
scheme consists of a combination of bright and fresh colours.
Comparison
There might be some differences comparing to the other icons about the same theme: on some, Virgin Mary
is sitting and reading a book and there may be a needlework basket next to her chair. In some cases there can
also be more buildings. Also the position of the Angel Gabriel can alter.
The Annunciation is one of the most frequently represented themes also in the history of biblical western art.
E.g. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) has painted the Virgin Mary sitting in a garden with a book. In his
painting, the Archangel Gabriel kneels before Mary in his first gesture of greeting and in his right hand holds
a lily.
References:
Debray Régis 2004. The New Testament Through 100 Masterpieces of Art.
Merrell. London.
The Light of Spirit - Icons of Imperial Russia from Yaroslavl. Exhibition
at the Jyväskylä Art Museum 13.6.-21.9.2003. Jyväskylä Art Museum
publications.
www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/annunciation/learn/
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The Annunciation of the Mother of God, painted by Jyrki Pouta, photographed by