Annunciation 1484

Filippino Lippi created this diptych, titled "Annunciation," during the Italian Renaissance, a period of great social and cultural change. The Annunciation is one of the key scenes in Christian tradition. Yet in Lippi's interpretation, the angel and Mary are each set within their own distinct spheres, separate yet interconnected. The angel Gabriel approaches Mary to deliver news that will transform her identity and her destiny. Mary’s humble acceptance is a powerful statement on the expected role of women. Note her kneeling pose, her lowered gaze, her hands clasped in prayer. Her submission is an essential element in a moment of divine intervention. Filippino Lippi presents an intimate moment that shaped religious history and continues to resonate with societal expectations surrounding gender, faith, and power.