The Annunciation Cortona Altarpiece

Marian Art

Works Cited

Art in Tuscany. GNU Free Documentation License, n.d. Web. 20 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poderesantapia.com%2Fart%2Ffraangelico.htm>.

"The Annunciation (c.1450)." The Annunciation, Fra Angelico: Analysis of Painting, Interpretation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/annunciation-fra-angelico.htm>.

"The Divine Light in Beato Angelico's Annunciation of Cortona." The Divine Light in Beato Angelico's Annunciation of Cortona. N.p., 17 Apr. 2014. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.italianways.com/the-divine-light-in-beato-angelicos-annunciation-of-cortona/>.

By: Adam Paquette and

AD Narla

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What is Being Said?

• The Angel Gabriel says to ther Virgin Mary, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow" Luke 1:35
• Mary says in reply," I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to thy word" Luke 1:38

The History of the Cortona Altarpiece

• It was originally made for the church San Domenico at Cortona
• It was later transferred to another church, presently the Museo Diocesano, around the time of the French occupation

The Annunciation Cortona Altarpiece

Symbols

• Outside the loggia is a garden enclosed by a palisade, which is a symbol for Mary's virginity.
• The dove above Mary represents the Holy Spirit coming over many.
• Mary leaning forward with her arms crossed is the symbol for piety (reverance) and acceptance of the request asked of her to be the mother of Jesus.

Symbols cont.

• The angel Gabriel points upward towards the Holy Spirit and points at Mary to show their communion

Symbols cont.

The Annunciation Cortona Altarpiece

• At the top left-hand corner, shows the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
• This implies that the birth of Jesus Christ will redeem Adam and Eve and save the world from Original Sin.
• The ornate robes represent the splender of God
• gold is the higher authority (God)
• halos = holiness
• wings = angel

Information of the Art Piece

Symbols cont.

Symbols on Mary:

• the red represents human blood
• the blue represents heaven (God)
• the faint image of a veil represents purity; wedding veil (married to God)

• The Annunciation Cortona Altarpiece
• The artist is Fra Angelico
• This art was made in the early Rennaisance circa 1433
• This painting is Rennaisance art because it is from the Early Rennaisance time period

The Annunciation Cortona Altarpiece

Seven Scenes

Fun Facts

Fra Angelico

• Fra Angelico (c. 1395 – February 18, 1455), born Guido di Pietro, was an Early Italian Renaissance painter
• Joined the Dominican Order between 1419 and 1422
• Angelico was indisputably the leading painter in Tuscany for nearly thirty years
• Lived a quiet life and did not have any personal record written by himself

1. The Virgin Birth

2.Marriage of the Virgin

3. The Visitation

4. Adoration of the Magi

5. Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

6. The Death of the Virgin

7. Assumption of Mary

• The upper tip of the wings of the angel mark the center of the painting
• Carved in a roundel in the center column is Isaiah; he prophesized the birth of a child to a virgin
• The actual painting is now held at the Museo Diocesano in Cortona, Italy
• This painting is done in fresco which is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly-laid, or wet lime plaster. Water is used for the pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.