“The Annunciation” is an artwork created by Jan van Eyck in 1440. Executed in oil on wood, this piece belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and is classified as a sculpture. Presently, it is housed in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Spain.
The artwork portrays a serene female figure draped in flowing robes, with delicate and intricate folds that give an impression of soft fabric. The figure holds a book in both hands and gazes upwards towards a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, which hovers above her head. The sculpted figure is set within a niche, further accentuating its three-dimensional quality and adding to the overall composition’s sense of depth. The detailed rendering of the figure’s attire and the naturalistic depiction of the facial features demonstrate van Eyck’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful technique. The artwork’s religious subject matter, combined with its precise execution, exemplifies the characteristics of the Northern Renaissance.
