The Annunciation
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
The Annunciation is a 1550 by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a woman kneeling in a dim room, clutching a book. Above her, a bright light streams down from a glowing circle, and a dove hovers nearby. Angels with wings crowd the space, some holding musical instruments or books, while others gesture toward the woman or the light. The woman looks up, her face calm but focused. The contrast between the dark room and the bright light makes everything stand out sharply. This print uses chiaroscuro—try looking up how artists used light and shadow this way.
