Who painted The Annunciation?

The Annunciation was painted by Luca Cambiaso in 1568.

Where can I see The Annunciation?

The Annunciation is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Annunciation?

The Annunciation is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Annunciation

Luca Cambiaso , 1568

The Annunciation is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Luca Cambiaso. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Luca Cambiaso’s drawing titled *The Annunciation*, dated around 1568, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Executed as a preparatory study rather than a finished panel, it captures the moment of the angel’s message to Mary with a compact composition that foregrounds the figures against a sparsely indicated interior.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the biblical episode in which the archangel Gabriel appears to a kneeling Mary, announcing the forthcoming birth of Christ. Mary is shown in prayer, hands clasped, while a dark mantle drapes her shoulders, emphasizing her humility. The angel hovers above, its wings rendered in gestural strokes, underscoring the divine intervention.

Technique & Style

Cambiaso employs rapid, sketchy lines to outline the angel’s wings and the folds of the garments, creating a sense of immediacy. The figures are rendered with loose shading, and the background is suggested only by faint outlines of furniture and a window, giving the drawing a draft‑like quality that hints at a larger, more detailed composition.

History & Provenance

Created in the late sixteenth century, the drawing entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, though the exact path of ownership before its museum entry remains undocumented. Its presence in the collection reflects the institution’s focus on Renaissance preparatory works and the study of artistic process.