Annunciation Triptych
Encyclopedia
The Annunciation Triptych is a tempera on panel painting by the Italian late Gothic artist Lorenzo Monaco
, now housed in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Florence
, Italy
.
saw it, but attributed it to Giotto. It was recognized as a work by Lorenzo Monaco by Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle
in 1864. It has been variously dated from 1408 to 1418.
The work had originally different cusps (perhaps with heads of prophets) and a predella, which is now lost.
The drapes feature intricate arabesque
s, perhaps influenced by the International Gothic
style introduced by Gherardo Starnina
and Lorenzo Ghiberti
.
Lorenzo Monaco
Lorenzo Monaco was an Italian painter of the late Gothic-early Renaissance age.-Biography:...
, now housed in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The triptych was commissioned for the church of San Procolo of Florence, where Renaissance art historian Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:...
saw it, but attributed it to Giotto. It was recognized as a work by Lorenzo Monaco by Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle
Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle
Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle was an Italian writer and art critic.-Biography:Cavalcaselle was born in Legnago, Veneto. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Cavalcaselle participated in the Revolution of 1848 and in the Roman Republic.After the latter's fall, he lived in England for...
in 1864. It has been variously dated from 1408 to 1418.
The work had originally different cusps (perhaps with heads of prophets) and a predella, which is now lost.
Description
The painting includes compartments divided into two panels surmounted by cusps, each sharing a golden background. The central painting depicts the Virgin, on a throne barely under her dress visible, on the right, and a hovering Angel of the Annunciation on the left. Behind her are parts of a house, including a double mullioned window, while next to her head is the Holy Ghost dove.The drapes feature intricate arabesque
Arabesque
The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements...
s, perhaps influenced by the International Gothic
International Gothic
International Gothic is a phase of Gothic art which developed in Burgundy, Bohemia, France and northern Italy in the late 14th century and early 15th century...
style introduced by Gherardo Starnina
Gherardo Starnina
Gherardo Starnina was an Italian painter from Florence.According to the biographer Giorgio Vasari, Starnina initially trained with Antonio Veneziano, then with Agnolo Gaddi. He is claimed to have participated in the painting of the frescos in the Castellani Chapel in Santa Croce, Florence...
and Lorenzo Ghiberti
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Lorenzo Ghiberti , born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian artist of the early Renaissance best known for works in sculpture and metalworking.-Early life:...
.