Formal Analysis "The Annunciation"

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Joos van Cleve’s painting titled The Annunciation was made in the Netherlands in the year 1525. The medium of this painting is oil on wood. This religious work of art shows an angel-looking figure next to a woman as they are facing each other inside a bedroom. Based on upward direction of the Angel’s finger (toward the heavens), one can say that he has come with a message from God. After reading the name of the painting, one can tell that this is a depiction of when Gabriel approached Mary and told her that she will give birth to the Son of God. This certain depiction made by Van Cleve is derived from Luke 1:26-38 (DiTolla). In The Annunciation, van Cleve uses even composition, curved shapes, and a use of contrasting colors to distinguish Gabriel and Mary from the other aspects of the painting. The Annunciation was painted in 1525, during a time period called the Renaissance. The Renaissance (meaning rebirth) was a time period in Europe following the Middle Ages with a revival of interest in the classical learning and values of Ancient Greece and Rome. The Renaissance began in the late 14th Century, reached its peak in the late 15th Century and early 16th Century, and ended later on in the 16th Century (Italian Renaissance). Religious paintings played a big role in the Renaissance. During this time of cultural rebirth, artists would try to paint scenes of the development of Jesus Christ, while also incorporating hidden symbols in the painting. Scenes of Christ’s life was desired in Catholic Churches, which triggered a large demand for religious paintings as the Renaissance progressed. The Virgin Mary is the second most portrayed religious figure in Renaissance art, with only Jesus Christ surpassing her. “Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements in a work of art” (Grantham). Composition draws in the viewer and draws their attention

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