Who painted The Annunciation (polyptych)?

The Annunciation (polyptych) was painted by Jacob van Utrecht in 1514.

Where can I see The Annunciation (polyptych)?

The Annunciation (polyptych) is held by Fitzwilliam Museum.

Artwork

The Annunciation (polyptych)

The Annunciation (polyptych) is an oil painting by Jacob van Utrecht. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Jacob van Utrecht, a Flemish painter active in the early sixteenth century, produced a small polyptych titled *The Annunciation* around 1514. Executed in oil on panel, the work presents the moment when the Archangel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary of her forthcoming role as mother of the divine Son. The piece is part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on two figures: the angel, identifiable by his expansive wings and a scroll bearing a script, and Mary, who holds a book and appears absorbed in contemplation. The interaction captures the theological significance of the Annunciation, emphasizing both divine proclamation and human receptivity within a tranquil, reverent atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Van Utrecht employs the oil medium to achieve subtle modeling of flesh and drapery, allowing delicate transitions of light across the figures. The limited background focuses attention on the central characters, while the crisp rendering of the angel’s wings and the fine detailing of the scroll demonstrate the artist’s Northern Renaissance attention to texture and materiality.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1500s, the polyptych eventually entered the holdings of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s activity in Antwerp and Lübeck, reflecting the cross‑regional circulation of religious artworks during the period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob van Utrecht

Jacob Claesz van Utrecht, also named by his signature Jacobus Traiectensis (c. 1479 – after 1525) was a Flemish early Renaissance painter who worked in Antwerp and Lübeck.