St. Peter (tempera and gold)
For today, a beautiful St Peter by Simone Martini, tempera and gold on panel (info here). At the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, Spain.
For today, a beautiful St Peter by Simone Martini, tempera and gold on panel (info here). At the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, Spain.
Here is my longtime favorite -- Domenico Ghirlandaio's Adoration of the Magi, 1488. I especially like the angels, and the musical notes, near the top. -- Adoration of the Magi.
(Here's a close-up of the angels.)
(And here are many more details from the painting.)
Note: This painting is more than nine feet tall! and approximately 8 feet wide.
I would like to offer this image as an appropriate represenatation for Christmas Eve -- Nativity, by Lorenzo Costa. It's at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, France. I love its simplicity.
I'm sure you'll agree that this is quite an extraordinary bpainting --
Adoration of the Magi (detail), 1423, by Gentile da Fabriano.
If you look at this painting using Zoom, you will see something quite marvelous. Check out the crowns, the gowns, and the floor. Look for the greyhound! --
The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor, ca. 1510, by Gerard David
Here are just a few of the Annunciations from the Huntington Library illuminated manuscripts:
Fifteenth century --
Annunciation, HM 1139, f. 13v (3 traditional elements) (additional info)
Annunciation, HM 1150, f. 12 (3 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1250, f. 15 (3 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1172, f. 7 (4 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1132, f. 14v-15 (4 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1153, f. 15v-16 (5 elements) (info)
Sixteenth century --
Annunciation, HM 1046, f. 17v (3 traditional elements, plus peacock and small animals) (additional info)
Annunciation, HM 48, f. 16 (3 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1147, f. 18v-19 (3 elements) (info)
Annunciation, HM 1175, f. 8v (4 elements, with cat) (info)
Here are two Christmas-related works from the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands.
Jesse Tree, 1485, by Jan Mostaert (additional info)
(Note: Look for the PEACOCK.)
Holy Kinship, ca. 1490, by Geertgen tot Sint Jans (additional info)
Reminder: Don't miss out on the enlarged versions!
This relief, made in alabaster, depicts the Tenth Sign of the Last Judgment, ca. 1440. Be sure to see the enlarged version of it.
More Annunciations, selected in part because of their quality and partly because of their variety --
Annunciation, 1425-30, by Masolino (Angel and Virgin only)
Annunciation, ca. 1485, by Frueauf the Elder (Angel and Virgin only)
With very elaborate setting --
Annunciation, ca. 1430, by the Master of Flemalle
Two more --
Annunciation, 1452, by Petrus Christus
Annunciation, 1472-75, by Leonardo da Vinci
Two very different works by a single artist --
Annunciation, 1467-70, by Hans Memling
Annunciation, 1467-70, by Hans Memling
Certain Gospel scenes lend themselves to exceptionally beautiful artwork. One of these is the Annunciation.
I propose during the next few days to post links to some of history's finest represenations of that event. Here, to get started, is a scene containing only a few of the elements traditionally incorporated in such works --
Annunciation, ca. 1430, by an unknown German master
Annunciation, ca. 1430, by an unknown Spanish master
Just three elements of the traditional Annunciation scene are present here: the angel Gabriel and the Virgin, and a lily. A more complex scene will incorporate additional elements --
Annunciation, by Francesco Albani
Here three more elements commonly found in Annunciation paintings have been added: the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and several angels.
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