Virgin of the Annunciation

This limestone image is unequalled in Renaissance sculpture. It depicts the Virgin of the Annunciation, kneeling on a cushioned prayer stool, following a model common in the 16th century, in which the Virgin, surprised, looks up and raises her hand to her heart. In some ways, this piece is something of an enigma, with many studies and theses having been written on the subjects of its iconography and the identity of the artist. It formerly belonged to the Cathedral of Coimbra.