The Annunciation
1614
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1614
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Annunciation is a 1614 by Jacques Bellange, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This engraving shows two figures in a dimly lit room. On the left, a woman kneels, dressed in flowing robes, her hands clasped. To the right, a winged figure hovers, holding a bunch of grapes and a staff topped with a cross. The room has a stone floor, a small table with a bowl, and a faint staircase in the background. The winged figure looks like an angel, often seen in religious scenes. The lighting creates strong shadows, making the figures stand out sharply. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works.
Jacques Bellange (c. 1575–1616) was an artist and printmaker from the Duchy of Lorraine (then independent but now part of France) whose etchings and some drawings are his only securely identified works today. They are…
See the richer artist page
