I love art and often pretend to intelligently analyze art…of course I don’t have the slightest idea what I am talking about most of the time, but I love the subject anyways. For my new series on The Story of Scripture I chose to highlight a piece of art by Fra Angelico because I believe it captures the storyline of Scripture within its frame beautifully.
You can read about Fra here, but it is his piece The Annunciation which I am interested in. The piece beautifully crafted and contains all sorts of interesting features. For example the architecture and designs in the painting reflect more of a Renaissance Europe than of ancient Israel. The clothing that the angel is wearing is representative of a style that was common in the Ming dynasty. There are lots of little interesting features that reflect both the time and the interest of the artist. But what I find most fascinating is the story the painting tells.
It is obvious that Angelico was referencing the announcement given to Mary that she would conceive the Messiah. The dove lighting upon here, flying from the hand of God, reveals the divine nature of this conception. But this story is connected, in the painting, with another important story in Scripture: the exile from Eden.
On the left of the painting we see Adam and Eve being escorted out of the Garden of Eden for their rebellion against God. By placing this story alongside the story of the coming birth of the Christ we see the storyline of Scripture communicated visually. Angelico is painting the gospel. Man’s problem on the left, and his hope of salvation on the right. In the stonework above Mary we see the image of an old man. This old man is the prophet Isaiah who announced the coming of the Messiah centuries before to give hope to the people of Israel. Immanuel, God with us, would come to rescue us, Isaiah said.
It’s really an amazing image and it communicates visually what the gospel is all about. I love this image for it communicates the gospel in a fresh and interesting way. I am no art critic, but I can definitely appreciate this painting!
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 