Annunciation is generally considered to be one of Leonardo’s earliest works. Dating from around 1472, this painting is made with tempera and oil on a wood panel. The left side of the composition is dominated by the archangel Gabriel who is seen kneeling and holding a bundle of white lilies, the symbol of the virgin. Opposite of Gabriel, Mary is seen acknowledging the arrival of the angel from behind a marble bench, where she was reading. The two figures are surrounded by an earthly environment and architectural elements that highlight the use of linear perspective. Leonardo completed this piece in the studio of his master, Verrocchio, who is thought to have painted parts of this piece. Additional changes were made after Leonardo's work, meaning several artists had a hand in the evolution of this painting.
“Annunciation.” Artworks, Uffizi Galleries, www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/annunciation.
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