Antonello da Messina
The Virgin Annunciate

Circa 1475-76
Oil on panel, approximately 11" x 18" (28 x 45.7 cm.)
Galleria Regionale, Palermo, Sicily

The painting is unusual because there is no corresponding image of Gabriel. Instead, the angel is present by implication in the Virgin's gesture, the right hand rising tentatively while the left retreats to the breast. One sees the same gesture in other Annunciations, but here it is remarkably natural as the left hand is about to clutch modestly at the veil. Also unusual is the rough woodwork of her reading-stand.

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Photographed at the Galleria Regionale by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.