The Annunciation
- Artist: Francesco (Francesco di Stefano) Pesellino
- Date: c. 1450-53
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is “The Annunciation” by Francesco (Francesco di Stefano) Pesellino, painted around 1450‑53. Pesellino worked in Florence, specializing in small‑scale pictures for private devotion, and this diptych is one of his most exquisite pieces. The work is executed in tempera on panel, a medium that allows for precise, luminous detail.
On the left panel, the Angel Gabriel stands before the Virgin Mary outside her chamber, announcing that she will soon bear the Son of God. The right panel continues the scene, focusing on Mary's intimate reaction. The composition is carefully balanced, drawing the viewer into a quiet, contemplative space.
Pesellino’s style is noted for its precision and high quality of materials. Notice Mary’s robe, rendered in ultramarine—a costly pigment made from lapis lazuli, a semi‑precious blue stone that was imported from Afghanistan. The use of such a pigment gives the garment a depth of color that feels almost tangible, enhancing the emotional resonance of the moment.
The lush colors and meticulous detailing invite a close examination, inviting the viewer to feel the sense of intimacy and heightened emotion that Pesellino captured so skillfully. This painting exemplifies how a modestly sized devotional image can convey profound theological narrative through delicate brushwork and thoughtful use of color.
See it in person
The Annunciation hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
