Artwork
Annunciation
Annunciation is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Corrado Giaquinto. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the Galleria Borghese.
About this work
Overview
Corrado Giaquinto’s 1753 canvas titled “Annunciation” presents the biblical moment when the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Christ child. Executed in the Rococo period, the work is part of the collection at Rome’s Galleria Borghese and exemplifies the artist’s graceful handling of religious narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a young woman in a white habit, her blue and red mantle draped over her shoulders, kneeling on a stone floor with hands joined in prayer. She gazes upward toward an angel descending from a cloud, embodying the humility and acceptance that the Annunciation story traditionally conveys.
Technique & Style
Giaquinto employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated forms of the angel and Mary against a dark, cloud‑filled sky. The angel, clothed in white with a yellow sash, extends his right hand toward the Virgin, while distant cherubs add a subtle celestial chorus, enhancing the scene’s depth and dramatic tension.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1753, the Annunciation entered the Galleria Borghese’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its presence in this prestigious Roman collection reflects the 18th‑century patronage of religious art and the continued appreciation of Giaquinto’s contributions to the Rococo aesthetic.
Artist & collection
Artist
Corrado Giaquinto was an Italian Rococo painter who worked in Naples, Rome, Turin and Madrid.
