Annunciation

The Annunciation, a masterpiece by Mariotto Albertinelli painted in 1511, exemplifies the greatest achievement of devotional art of the Florentine High Renaissance with its consummate embodiment of the biblical topic in terms of correct structural design. This artwork was created at the time when Albertinelli’s cooperation with the Dominican monk Fra Bartolomeo flourished. The picture consists of two spheres, precise and visual, demonstrating a possible transfiguration of the divine world. Gabrielle stands on the left, depicted in the air, his huge wings over him, his garments widely flown on him while pointing his fingers towards Virgin Mary. On the right side of the picture, Mary is pictured under the classical barrel vault of great and deep proportions, her body being turned in a gentle contrapposto as she bows with her head showing her acceptance. In her hand she holds a small sacral book which, however, is read at the moment of appearance of the angel. In the upper part of the painting the open heaven reveals God the Father sitting on the clouds and surrounded by small angels while showing Jesus Christ to Mary in the shape of a dove. The real strength of the canvas comes from the way that Albertinelli uses color and keeps emotions in check, following classical principles from the regions of Bologna and Umbria. The painter chooses not to let himself be influenced by the dramatic and energetic style of early Mannerism in Florence. The artist themselves uses a calm and smooth style which gives the cotemporary feel to the work that helps him avoid the exaggerated movements. The figures are sculpted in such a way that allows people to see the details in their expressions and skin tones; however, the use of the technique that combines colors gives the likenesses vision of softness at the same time. The blue cloak and the red robe give weight to the lower right part of the painting and contrast with the bright golden colors used by the angels. The technique that was used here gives the glossy feeling of the stone surface and allows the glow come through the clouds. In a nutshell, this artwork represents one of the key transitions in history, as it demonstrates the ideal of Renaissance harmony and the perfection of Renaissance laws of perspective and storytelling right before the Baroque period begins.