Artwork
Annunciation
Annunciation is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Dieric Bouts. It dates from 1445 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the moment of the Annunciation, showing the Virgin Mary within a domestic interior as the angel Gabriel announces the forthcoming birth of Christ.
The composition includes symbolic elements such as the lily (purity), the open book (scripture), and the modest domestic setting, which together emphasize Mary's obedience and the incarnation.
As a religious painting from 1445 by Dieric Bouts, the piece functions as a visual sermon on the divine message and the humanity of the Virgin, inviting contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation.
Technique & Style
Created in 1445, this religious painting by Dieric Bouts is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel.
Created in 1445, this religious painting by Dieric Bouts is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel. The work measures 80 cm in height and 56 cm in width. Originally functioning as one component of a larger triptych, the panel depicts the Annunciation scene within an interior setting, featuring the Virgin Mary and an angel alongside a book.
The composition is characterized by its focus on these specific figures and objects within a defined architectural space, consistent with the artist's approach to religious narrative during this period.
History & Provenance
The Annunciation panel is dated to circa 1445 and is associated with a triptych depicting four scenes, Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and Adoration of the Magi, by Dieric Bouts. It is recorded as part of the holdings of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains in the permanent collection. The work is recorded in the museum's catalogue, but no specific inventory or accession number is provided in the sources consulted, and no documented temporary exhibitions are listed in the available documentation.
Overview
Dieric Bouts, an Early Netherlandish painter, completed Annunciation in 1445 using oil paint. This religious work depicts the biblical moment when the angel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary of her divine pregnancy. The painting is currently housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, representing a key example of mid-15th century Northern European art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dieric Bouts (born c. 1415 – 6 May 1475) was an Early Netherlandish painter. Bouts may have studied under Rogier van der Weyden, and his work was influenced by van der Weyden and Jan van Eyck. He worked in Leuven from…
