The Annunciation

Working in Florence, Pesellino specialised in small-scale pictures for private devotion. The Annunciation was a common theme for such works. The angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary outside her chamber, telling her she will soon give birth to the son of God. This two-part painting, or diptych, is one of Pesellino’s most exquisite works. Pesellino was admired for his precise style and the high quality of the materials he used. Mary’s robe, for example, is painted with ultramarine, an expensive pigment made from lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone imported from Afghanistan. The lush colours and detailed depiction draw the viewer in, creating a sense of intimacy and heightened emotion.