Who painted The Annunciation?

The Annunciation was painted by Jaume Ferrer II in 1457.

Where can I see The Annunciation?

The Annunciation is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Annunciation?

The Annunciation is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

The Annunciation

Jaume Ferrer II , 1457

The Annunciation is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Jaume Ferrer II. It dates from 1457 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The panel depicts the biblical moment when the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God.

Accession no.: 1953.660.1
Credit line: Gift of Francis Ginn, Marian Ginn Jones, Barbara Ginn Griesinger, and Alexander Ginn in memory of Frank Hadley Ginn and Cornelia Root Ginn

About this work

Overview

The panel depicts the biblical moment when the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Rendered in a domestic interior, the composition places the Virgin in a modest blue robe opposite the angel, both set against an opulent gold ground that features raised decorative relief.

Subject & Meaning

Symbolic objects populate the scene: lilies signify Mary's purity; a covered jar and water vessel suggest inviolability; a pomegranate alludes to resurrection; an apple references the Fall; a towel and basin evoke liturgical washing; a extinguished candle hints at divine illumination. Two books, one closed, one open, represent the Old and New Testaments, linking prophecy to fulfillment.

Technique & Style

The gold background is not a flat plane but is embellished with pastiglia, a low relief made from a mixture of glue and powdered shell or chalk. This technique, popular in 15th‑century Catalonia, creates a tactile, shimmering surface that enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the work.

History & Provenance

The panel is believed to be one of the surviving components of a six‑panel altarpiece, the central large panel of which resides in Barcelona’s Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. The work was a collaborative commission between the artist Ferrer and the painter Pere Garcia de Benavarri.

Context

Spanish devotional paintings of the period often employed lavish gold ornamentation and intricate symbolic programs to engage viewers in contemplation. The domestic setting reflects a trend toward humanizing sacred narratives, making the divine event accessible within everyday surroundings.