Annunciatie c. 1550

This 16th-century woodcut by the Monogrammist AF depicts the Annunciation. Gabriel, bearing a lily, approaches Mary, while the dove of the Holy Spirit descends, watched by God in the upper corner. The lily, a symbol of purity and innocence, speaks to Mary's immaculate conception. This motif, however, goes back further than its use in Christian art. We see similar floral offerings in ancient Roman depictions of Flora, the goddess of springtime. What is particularly fascinating is how the direction of the angel’s pointing gesture seems to have shifted over time. The gesture can be traced back to classical oratory, but here it assumes a divine purpose. It is an emotional charge that we all recognise: the moment of divine communication, the moment of sacred knowledge being imparted.