| Cestello Annunciation | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Artist | Botticelli |
| Year | 1489-1490 |
| Medium | Tempera on panel |
| Location | Uffizi in Florence, Italy |
| Dimensions | 59 in × 61 in |
| 150 cm × 156 cm | |
| Famous Paintings by Botticelli | |
| Fortitude | |
| Adoration of the Magi | |
| The Birth of Venus | |
| Primavera | |
| Cestello Annunciation | |
| Saint Augustine | |
| Venus and Mars | |
| The Mystical Nativity | |
| Temptations of Christ | |
| Complete Works |
Sandro Botticelli was commissioned to produce the The Cestello Annunciation, in 1489, for the Cestello convent in Florence. The painting is thought to depict the moments after Archangel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, as told in Luke’s gospel, when he informs her of the Holy Ghost’s impending visit.
Type
The The Cestello Annunciation is a tempera painting on a wood panel. Tempera is a fast-drying paint medium that was superseded by oil painting around 1500.
Main Focus
The main focus of the Cestello painting is the depiction of an angel kneeling to a woman. The angel is open-mouthed, as if talking. Accompanying the original painting is a Latin quote, from Luke’s gospel, about the arrival of the Holy Ghost. This quote is thought to have served as inspiration for the painting.
The painting is structured in such a way that it utilizes Brunelleschi’s perspective. Past the kneeling angel and through the window behind him, the eye is drawn to the farthest reaches past trees and buildings, giving a sense of eternity.