Artwork
Annunciation
Annunciation is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Francesco Bissolo. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1520 by Venetian painter Francesco Bissolo, a disciple of Giovanni Bellini, this oil on canvas presents a High Renaissance interpretation of the Annunciation. The work is part of the Norton Simon Museum’s collection and exemplifies the period’s balanced composition and devotional tone.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the biblical moment when the Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Mary is shown kneeling at a prayer desk, her hands clasped, while the angel, haloed and winged, gestures forward, emphasizing the divine message and the humility of the encounter.
Technique & Style
Bissolo employs oil paint to achieve a subtle chiaroscuro, modeling forms through contrasts of light and shadow. The figures are rendered with soft modeling, and the surrounding space—tiled floor, open window revealing a pastoral landscape, and a green wall—adds depth and situates the sacred scene within a serene interior.
History & Provenance
The painting has remained in private and institutional hands before entering the Norton Simon Museum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Renaissance holdings. Its attribution to Bissolo aligns with his known output as a follower of Bellini’s Venetian style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bissolo (1470-72 - 20 April 1554) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance.
