Annunciation

Personal Reflection

Painted as an altarpiece for a cathedral in Siena, Simone did the primary scene between Gabriel and Mary, a story told in the book of Luke. Lippo Memmi is said to have added the saints on the sides; St Ansanus on the left in red with a quill who is the patron saint of Siena, and St Margaret on the right, the patron saint of childbirth. You can tell the saints were painted by a different artist because the robes are different, more flowy and less sharp. The floor is different and the halo designs are different. Halos or an aura around the head goes back to Persian divinity, designating holiness. The frame was reconstructed in the 19th century to what we see today with the prophets on the top (I think the blank spot is meant to be for Christ). This is an example of a substyle called International style that was around the same time as Giotto, it looks back on earlier styles like Byzantine and Gothic. It brings back the Byzantian gold leaf background, elongated features, and flat throne and figures to emphasize the spirituality, while the arches and golden spires are a Gothic function; they are very elaborate, lavish, ornate, and expensive. If you look closely, you can see some words between Gabriel and Mary that says something like "Hail thou that art highly favored, the lord is with thee." That's the moment Jesus was conceived, if such immaculate conception existed. Under the keystone of the main arch, you'll notice a seraphim angel depicted as a dove body with a human face. It's meant to be a symbol of the holy spirit watching the annunciation. Finally, the last little details I like the most are the laurels Gabriel bears in greeting and the vase with white lilies, a common symbol of Mary's purity/virginity. Plus, Mary was often drawn (starting in the middle ages) with a book to show how engaged she is with her prayers.

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