Anticipation : Advent - The Annunciation of Cortona; M. Ford Creech Antiques

"THE ANNUNCIATION OF CORTONA"

Fra Angelico, 1433-34

Tempera on Wood / Approximately 69 x 71 Inches

Museo Diocesano, Cortona

This altarpiece is said to be one of Fra Angelico's first true masterpieces.

It was one of several commissioned of the painter a gifted Dominican friar) by the Florentine Medici family.

In this version, he depicts the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel, with annotated dialogue not unlike modern cartoons.

The Angel speaks :

SPS & SVP VEIET ITE (over) 7 VIRT ATISI OBVBRABIT TIBI

("The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee")

The Virgin responds in the middle line,

the letters reading upside down and backwards :

ECCE ACILLA DN VBV TVVM

("Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word")

Depicted in the upper left corner are Adam and Eve, being chased out of Paradise by an angel.

Below in the predella are various scenes from the life of the Virgin.

This altarpiece originally stood in the church of San Domenico in Cortona.

It was moved to the Church of Gesu in the Cortona in the 19th century,

now residing in the Museo Diocesano, Cortona.

This painting is from a series of three works chosen by us to celebrate this Christmas season :

The 'Annunciation', the 'Nativity' and the 'Journey of the Magi' have inspired

some of the most extraordinary art in the history of mankind.

From the more stoic medieval art to the full blown renaissance, the examples are rich and myriad.

For other examples please see :

And the best of Christmas and holiday wishes to you,

Millicent Creech

Caroline Harrison Kelly

Keith Rainer

901-761-1163 (gallery) / 901-827-4668 (cell)

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