1887
oil
canvas
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The Annunciation is a 1887 oil by George Hitchcock, a American Impressionism work, held at Art Institute of Chicago.
The painting shows a young woman standing in a field of lilies. She looks down, humble, and quiet. This scene is interesting because the artist chose a simple, everyday setting for a big religious moment, which is unusual. The artist's time in Holland likely influenced this choice. Check out the technique of glazing to learn more about how artists like Hitchcock created their work.
In George Hitchcock’s unusual presentation of the Annunciation, the virgin is depicted as a Dutch peasant girl standing in a field of lilies. Traditionally, the lily is a symbol of the angel Gabriel, and Mary’s downcast eyes and humble stance imply that she has received his divine message. Hitchcock spent much of his life in Holland, and his work synthesizes elements of several European art movements. The choice of a religious subject, the unusual composition, and his interest in the effects of sunlight and shadow reflect the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites, the Symbolists, and the…
George Hitchcock, Egmond-aan-Zee, Holland, 1887; Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer, Chicago, 1890; bequeathed to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1930.
Paris, France, Palais de Champs–Élysées, Salon des artistes français , May 1–[?], 1888, cat. 1297. Paris, France, Exposition Universelle , May 6–Oct. 31, 1889, cat. 166. Norfolk, Virginia, Chrysler Museum, Paris 1889: American Artists at the Universal Exposition , Sept. 29–Dec. 17, 1989, cat. 166; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Feb. 1–Apr. 15, 1990, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, New York Historical Society, Sept. 5–Nov. 15, 1990.
Read the full account in the museum source.
George Hitchcock (September 29, 1850 – August 2, 1913) was an American painter, born in Providence, Rhode Island, and was mostly active in Europe, notably in the Netherlands.
See the richer artist page
