Artwork
Annunciation
Annunciation is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Fra Carnevale. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Annunciation is a wood painting created by Fra Carnevale around 1450, during the early Renaissance. It depicts a pivotal religious scene and is part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Annunciation, a central Christian theme, where an angel (left, kneeling, with lily, blue wings, and halo) announces to the Virgin Mary (right, standing, with book) the impending birth of Jesus. The serene and reverent atmosphere underscores the scene's spiritual significance.
Technique & Style
Fra Carnevale employed chiaroscuro to achieve depth and volume, guiding the viewer's focus. The composition balances the figures against a detailed background, blending indoor domesticity (bed, window, doorway) with an outdoor landscape (trees, distant building).
Artist & collection
Artist
Fra Carnevale OP (c. 1420–25 – 1484) was an Italian painter of the Quattrocento, active mainly in Urbino. Widely regarded as one of the most enigmatic artists, there are only nine works that can be definitively…
