art that moves me pt.2 ---- announcing the annunciation adoration!

Let it be known publicly that I did not grow up in a religious household (I know! I’m just FULL of surprises!). I gleaned the majority of my biblical knowledge in college. Between art history class and ‘religion and psychology’, I think I got the main thrust of Jesus’ life, as well as a few saints. Poor Sebastian. Doubting Thomas. John the Baptist losing his head to the sexy vixen, Salome. Let’s just say, I concentrated on a few highlights. I got the Reader’s Digest version, if nothing else.

It has always been The Annunciation, however, that has mused me for years. This most elegant moment – this passing of the heavens unto our earthly vessels…well, it’s truly magical. Why must she always be on the right? Why must Gabriel’s hand look as if he is about to strike her? All the symbolism – the lily, the closed garden, the dove…. Magnificent! Glorious! The innocence! The first sparkling moment of her difference from everyone --- what a moment to capture! Here are a few of my favorites. Some of them are dramatically different from the thousands that came before it. I wish I could show you all of them. Maybe this introduction to my faves will lead you to find your own.

Let us begin...

Perfection in its traditional beauty:

by Fra Angelico, c.1441

The beautiful wings, the delicate, softness of Mary’s pose. She willfully accepts her destiny. The elegant columns, trimmed garden, bowing angel… Ah…

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Then we get all Byzantine with ornate gold with this:

by Martini, c.1333

SO SO elaborate and gorgeous with the high flying wings of GLORY! Mary’s pose is almost peculiar though, as if she’s shying away from Gabriel’s message. And is it me, or is her face reluctant here? Beauty, tradition, grandeur though, all radiate from this altarpiece.

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So these pieces are pretty much how this scene was painted for oh, five hundred years or more. The next four are pieces that really stir things up. The most hopeful, optimistic, pious one is this:

Maurice Denis, 1912

The bright sun bursting in through all the windows. Distorted and yet quite cheerful palette makes the gorgeous light white of Mary’s dress seem all that much more holy. She’s praying, seemingly allknowing with her acceptance of baby Jesus growing within her. This time Gabriel is on her right, in complete honoring of her, kneeling under the rays of the sun.

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While this next one came some sixty years before, I feel like it takes such a sharp turn from the others, that I wanted to save it until now. In this one, it seems that Mary is utterly frightened:

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1849-50

Crouched on a tiny bed, in what must be the smallest room, Gabriel towers over her demanding her to take on this commandment. She WILL BE THE MOTHER OF GOD’S SON! She cannot even meet the angel’s eyes. In her utter amazement, she zones out, wondering why her…WHY? WHY? This painting has always been my favorite of the bunch. To think of hearing such a line…So, um, Mary, by the way, I know you’re about 14 or so, and have barely seen outside your village, but yer preggers with JESUS in your belly! YEAH! Hallelujah, indeed! The realism here (not painterly realism, but emotional realism) is quite inspiring. Bravo, Rossetti!

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Finally we come across the pond, as it were, to good ol’ Americans and their take on the subject. I must start with this one:

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898

I am most moved by this one. I feel Mary’s quivering, squeezing her hands in fear and awe. Gabriel has become the bright&warm sunrays! No need for any human embodiment, the true message from god comes through this pure light. And yeah, no shit she’s scared! Sweet, brown hair, small little girl taking on the weight of the universe. This one just kills me. So gorgeous. So meaningful.

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I will leave you with the one that would be MOST like my own, would I have thought of it! Ha! Here, we have all that we need to get the message:

Warhol, 1984

We have the hands. Gabriel’s direction. Mary’s acceptance. Isolated, distorted with color, but oh-so-freaking-brilliant! SIMPLIFY! Sigh…You gotta love Warhol!

Wow, what's left to say? Just know that I just experienced an amazing artgasm sharing all this with you!