Merry Christmas Eve with Fra Angelico
The Annunciation represents the biblical story in which Archangel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. These two panels were once part of a large altarpiece, placed to the left and right above a central painting and held within an elaborate frame. Fra Angelico represented the moment just after the angel’s announcement, as indicated by the gesture of the Virgin, whose bowed head shows that she has submitted to the will of God. The Annunciation was a common theme in fifteenth-century altarpieces; Italian artists analyzed and depicted every aspect of this miraculous event. Detroit Institute of Arts
ChasingART 
Crazy how at one time in Italy, all art had to be religious themed.
The workmanship is fantastic, but I’m so glad the renaissance happened. Even so, it was a long while until art became a more personal expression, and not an expression of the state.
We’ve come a long way!
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We have indeed, Resa. What is amazing to me is that art is going back into the ancient, pagan mythologies just as they did in the Italian Renaissance. Fra Angelico is one of my favourites. He and his brother, Fra Benedetto worked side by side for many years. And yet, was it all Christian art? Hmmmm….
I just read that The Adoration of the Magi, c. 1400–55, by Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi had pagan references. “The derelict arch most obviously refers to the pagan religion of the Romans, which was superseded by Christianity.”http://www.italianrenaissanceresources.com/units/unit-7/essays/pagan-artifacts-in-christian-art/
What I love about artists, throughout the centuries, was that they pushed the boundaries and made us think, to reflect, to be more open and compassionate.
Happy New Year! Sending hugs and more hugs! Many thanks for your comments, which are always welcome.
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✨❄⛄🎄⛄❄✨
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Merry Christmas, Graham! All the very best of this precious season to you and yours!
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Thanking you kindly, Rebecca. Best wishes to you and yours, too!
✨❄⛄🎄🥂🕊💖🕊🥂🎄⛄❄✨
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