Virgin Annunciate 1404 - 1407

Gherardo Starnina's *Virgin Annunciate* was made around 1400, likely in Florence, Italy, with tempera and gold leaf on a wood panel. The most striking material here is gold. Gilding wooden panels, a painstaking and specialized craft, was common practice at this time. This reflective surface wasn't merely decorative; it symbolized divine light and Mary’s purity. Consider the labor involved: leaf after leaf applied meticulously, burnished to a gleaming finish. The tempera paint, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, gives the colors their soft, matte quality. Note how Starnina uses these materials to create texture – the delicate folds of Mary’s robe, the feathered wings of the angel. The choice of materials and the labor-intensive techniques are a reflection of the time, where craft was revered, and the value placed on handmade objects was exceptionally high. This reflects a pre-industrial age, where the touch of the artisan was still highly prized.