The Annunciation
ca. 1480–1500
Medium
Tempera and gold on wood
Dimensions
Overall 16 1/4 x 14 5/8 in. (41.3 x 37.1 cm); painted surface 16 x 14 1/8 in. (40.6 x 36 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.77
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the serene glow of gold leaf, Alesso di Benozzo *The Annunciation* (ca. 1480–1500) captures one of Christianity's most pivotal moments: the angel Gabriel's divine announcement to the Virgin Mary she will conceive Jesus. This intimate panel painting, measuring just over 16 by 14 inches, invites viewers into a sacred dialogue, with the figures rendered in delicate tempera—a medium of finely ground pigments mixed with egg yolk that yields vibrant, luminous colors ideal for devotional art. Crafted on wood during Italy's late Renaissance, the work exemplifies Umbrian painting traditions, where artists like Benozzo (active in Perugia) blended Gothic elegance with emerging Renaissance naturalism. The lavish use of gold not only symbolizes heavenly light but also enhanced the panel's role in private prayer or as part of an altarpiece, making spirituality tangible for Renaissance worshippers. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Robert Lehman Collection since 1975, this gem highlights the era's devotion to Marian themes, offering a window into 15th-century faith and artistry. Gaze closely to appreciate the intricate halos and folds of drapery that breathe life into this timeless biblical encounter.
About the Artist
Alesso di Benozzo · 1473–1593
Italian, Florence, 1473–1528