The Annunciation
1574
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1574
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Annunciation is a 1574 ink by Federico Barocci, a Renaissance work, depicting saint cecilia, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a winged angel kneeling before a woman in a quiet room. Soft light falls on her face and hands. The angel holds a white lily, a symbol of purity. Barocci made this as part of a set showing Bible scenes. The delicate lines catch tiny details like folds in fabric. You can see his careful shading in the angel’s wings. Look up etching. This one’s also done with drypoint, where the artist scratches lines into metal.
