The Bible In Paintings 3 – GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, Part 1

Fine Art America ^ | c.2,200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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GABRIEL'S

AMAZING

NEWS . FOR

MARY

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L U K E .. 1
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible

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Resources to CLICK:
To read LUKE 1 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
To see an ANIMATION of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

Harmony of the Gospels

5
B. C.
Bible Timeline

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LUKE, Chapter 1

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught….

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

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PLEASE NOTE: As I have made clear previously, my policy and practice consistently has been to post everything I find. My reason is that there may be a specific work that God intends to use to touch your heart, so I have no business excluding it.

However, we have arrived at an event where such comprehensive posting is no longer possible: there literally are thousands of images about Gabriel's annunciation to Mary. Were I foolishly to post them all, it would take a couple of months—and you and I would become restive long before then.

So, on this occasion (as on several others still ahead, obviously), I "cherry-picked" a representative group, with varying styles, ages and origins—the ones that to me are simply the "best 100" at both telling the story and pleasing the eye. Indeed, if I omitted some of your favorites, please share them with all of us by adding them in the comments. (Let me know if you'd like my help in posting pictures.)

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by AUGUSTE PICHON
"The Annunciation"

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JEN NORTON
"The Annunciation"

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by HENRY OSSAWA TANNER
"The Annunciation"

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BILL BELL
"Hail Mary"

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MIKE MOYERS
"The Annunciation"

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6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIOVANNI ODAZZI
"The Annunciation"

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7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by WILLIAM BRASSEY HOLE
"The Annunciation"

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PATRICIA BRINTLE
"The Annunciation"

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LEONARDO DA VINCI
"The Annunciation"

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO
"The Annunciation"

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by SVITOZAR NENYUK
"Annunciation To The Blessed Virgin Mary"

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOHN WILLIAM WATERHOUSE
"The Annunciation"

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANK PICKFORD MARRIOTT
"The Annunciation"

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANDREEA BAGIU
"The Annunciation"

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANCOIS LEMOYNE
"The Annunciation"

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BENEDETTO BONFIGLI
"The Annunciation"

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EL GRECO
"The Annunciation"

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EL GRECO
"The Annunciation"

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EL GRECO
"La Anunciacion"

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Annunciation"

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Annunciation"

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ZANOBI STROZZI
"Annunciation"

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23 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GERARD DAVID
"The Annunciation"

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24 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIROLAMO DA SANTACROCE
"The Annunciation"

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25 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by TITIAN
"Detail of The Annunciation"

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26 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANCESCO SOLIMENA
"The Annunciation"

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27 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN PROVOOST
"Annunciation"

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28 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MATTHIAS STOM
"The Annunciation"

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29 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JODI SIMMONS
"Annunciation"

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30 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIOVANNI DI PAOLO DI GRAZIA
"The Annunciation and Expulsion from Paradise"

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31 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE
"The Annunciation"

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32 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LUIS JUAREZ
"The Annunciation"

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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33 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EDWARD COLEY BURNE JONES
"The Annunciation"

LINK TO TREASURE-TROVES OF
IMAGES WITH GABRIEL AND MARY
Fine Art America:
Searching "Annunciation Mary" returned
822 images, of which I selected only 98

[Hebrews 11:6]

If not, there’s still the remaining images I’ve found.

[etabeta]

The Annunciation has been the subject of some great paintings in art. Great choices today! Here is one by Simone Martini (14th c.)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for adding that, Alba.

By the way, I am ignorant of the purpose of the white flower Gabriel presents to Mary in nearly every picture. Obviously, it has tremendous symbolic significance. I can guess, but I'd rather know, if you'd be so kind.

[etabeta]

Dan, when around 1300 flowers were introduced in European paintings, the artist Duccio was the first to place a vase of white lilies near Mary. Since then, the lily has been associated with the Virgin Mary, it symbolizes her purity of spirit, humility, devotion, peace, serenity. White is also the symbol of death, of mourning, so a dual meaning for Mary.

[Hebrews 11:6]

That's lovely. I could not have anticipated a dual meaning.

Thank you, Alba!

[etabeta]

One of the greatest Annunciation was painted by Antonello da Messina, unusual because it doesn't show the angel. It portrays Mary reading her devotional book and just becoming aware of a presence at her side. She seems frozen in place, only her eyes are turning to her side and the only emotion is revealed by her raised hand.

[null and void]

Good selections for a top 100.

I note that a few Angels look scary, probably truer that the kindly human looking ones, else why would nearly every case, the first thing an angel says is some variant of 'Don't be afraid'?

One doesn't need to say that to someone who isn't afraid!

It must be especially challenging for a Biblically aware artist to depict an Angel accurately. Mostly they default to a kindly looking, wise, handsome, perfect humans with doves' wings. Perhaps a battle scared victor from the battle to throw Lucifer and his minions from the Heavenly realm would be more accurate (although scary!).

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes, I love it when artists throw off convention and really explore the possibilities inherent in the event.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, when you're alone and suddenly someone appears out of thin air, anyone would be startled and fearful.

I agree that painting angels is a daunting task. God has described seraphim vividly, but not the ordinary enlisted ranks. Eventually, though, we'll know how they look from personal experience, because we'll all live among them: believers with the good 'uns, and nonbelievers with the others.

[Hebrews 11:6]

My other perplexity, O Answer Woman, is: What is the symbolism of the blue that Mary is ALWAYS shown wearing?

[Vendome]

Beautiful all

though I am partial to El Greco and Botticelli...

[Albion Wilde]

Click to listen:

Gabriel's Message

The Angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden, Mary
“Most highly favored lady, gloria! Gloria!”

”For known a blessed mother thou shalt be
“All generations laud and honor thee
“Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold
“Most highly favored lady, gloria! Gloria!”

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
“To me, be as it pleaseth God,” she said
“My soul shall laud and magnify His Holy Name!”
Most highly favored lady, gloria! Gloria!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes, I too was struck by the beauty of these, not to mention tomorrow's and Friday's on the same subject.

There are some artists with frequent biblical contributions, El Greco not least among them, whose works have a consistent style which is instantly recognizable. Among them are Doré, Hole, Qi, Rembrandt, Tissot....

[Hebrews 11:6]

Has Sting often sung songs regarding the faith?

[Albion Wilde]

An entire, very beautiful 2009 album: some religious, some secular:

PS:
FReepmail for you.

[etabeta]

Blue is the color of royalty. In iconography it represents the divine, transcendence, spirituality, the heavens. Blue has also deep biblical roots in the OT.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you.

[Maudeen]

Such in-depth comments on these New Testament threads!

[Hebrews 11:6]

I’m appreciating that, too.