The artwork, titled “Meeting of Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gate,” was created by Filippo Lippi around the year 1445. Crafted using tempera on wood, this Early Renaissance religious painting measures 21 x 48 cm. The artwork is currently housed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK.
In the painting, Filippo Lippi illustrates a significant moment from the canonical Christian narratives—the meeting of Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary’s parents, at the Golden Gate. The scene is imbued with a sense of anticipation and reverence, with the figures tenderly reaching out to each other amid a serene yet dynamically detailed landscape. A third figure, possibly a celestial messenger, hovers above them, adding a divine context to their reunion. Surrounding them, the landscape is meticulously detailed with lush greenery, animals, and architectural elements, characteristic of the Early Renaissance focus on naturalism and spatial coherence. The soft, yet vivid colors imbue the scene with a harmonious and contemplative atmosphere.
