The Annunciation 1675 - 1741

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini made this sketch of the Annunciation using pen and brown ink with brown wash on paper. The loose, free quality of the drawing is achieved through the fluidity of ink, allowing Pellegrini to capture the ethereal nature of the scene. The brown wash creates depth and shadow, emphasizing the weightiness of the figures and the celestial light. The layered application and transparency of the wash give the artwork a sense of movement, enhancing the immediacy of the divine encounter. Pellegrini's mastery of the medium allowed him to convey the drama and emotion of the Annunciation with just a few strokes of the pen and washes of ink. Considering the materials and making process invites us to understand the artwork beyond its religious subject, highlighting the artist's skill and the cultural significance of drawing as a mode of artistic expression.