Botticelli’s the
Annunciation
Masterpiece Analysis
The Annunciation ca. 1489
Tempera on Panel
History
• The Annunciation, also known as the Cestello Annunciation by Sandro
Botticelli was commissioned by the church of the convent of Cestello in
1489. This church is now known as the Santa Maria Maddalena de’Pazzi.
• The materials used for this painting is tempera paints on wood panel
• This piece is now housed in the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence
White Lily
• White lilies are usually associated with the
Virgin Mary because they are a symbol of
purity. The white of the lily represented
her purity and the golden stamen of the
lily represents her glowing soul.
• White lilies are very common in
annunciation scenes, usually placed in
vases at the corner of the scene or in
Gabriel’s hand. In this particular
annunciation scene, we see the second
placement.
Positions of Mary and
Gabriel
• Most annunciation scenes of this time
period show Mary kneeling and the angel
Gabriel bending down to touch Mary. In
this scene, Botticelli reverses the positions
of Gabriel and Mary to create a more
dynamic scene.
• Botticelli also creates a pyramidal
composition between the two figures,
which is becoming more and more
popular in Italy to show depth and
composition.
The Book and The Blue
• We know that this is an annunciation
scene partially based on the book on the
stand. In most annunciation scenes of
this time, Mary is shown reading, or at
least holding a book or near an open
book.
• Mary is also wearing a blue robe, which is
also very characteristic of annunciation
scenes as well as very characteristic of
Mary. The colour blue in Christian
painting also symbolizes heavenly grace,
good health, and hope.
Original
Framework
On the original framework of the painting,
under Mary, there is a short scripture from St.
Luke’s Gospel 1:35. In Latin it reads “The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the highest shall overshadow thee.”
This passage is an excerpt from the
annunciation story in the Bible which is Luke
1:26-38. What is written on the frame is part
of what Gabriel says to the Virgin Mary in the
original Bible story.
Halos
• The halo is very common in the Italian
Renaissance style, and less so in the
Northern European Renaissance. We can
help place where the work was made
based on the usage of halos. We are also
seeing the more Byzantine style of halo
here rather than the progression towards
the very thin outline of the halo which
happens later in the Renaissance.
• In Christianity, the halo represents a
window into heaven, where God is the
source of light.
Sources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cestello_Annunciation_(Botticelli)
• http://www.theartofpainting.be/AOM-Annunciation.htm
• http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/meaning-of-colorsin-christian-art.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(religious_iconography)