Gospel in Art: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

The Annunciation with St Emidius, by Carlo Crivelli, 1486 © National Gallery, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 25 March 2025
Luke 1:26-38

At that time: The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'

And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?' And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her.

Reflection on the painting

In the summer of 1995, I moved to London (from Belgium where I grew up). It is exactly 30 years this year that I have lived in London, a wonderful city. One of the very first paintings I encountered was this magnificent canvas by Carlo Crivelli at the National Gallery. The explosion of colour (though this photograph doesn't quite do it justice), the intricate detail, and the rich symbolism of the composition deeply moved me. Even now, when I see this painting, it transports me back to the beginning of that new chapter in my life. Like an old friend evoking cherished memories, art has the power to remind us of the past and its significance.

At the centre of the composition, a ray of light from the Holy Spirit descends upon Mary. The closed passageway in the background to the left and the flask of pure water in Mary's chamber symbolise her virginity. In the foreground, we see the Angel Gabriel alongside Saint Emidius, who holds a model of Ascoli Piceno-a town in Marche, Italy, of which he is the patron saint. It is not uncommon to see a local saint taking an active role in biblical events within religious art.

Several other symbolic elements enrich the scene. The apple in the foreground represents the forbidden fruit of Eden, serving as a reminder of sin, while the cucumber, delicately poised at the edge of the painting and directed towards the viewer, symbolises the reversal of sin-resurrection and redemption. Unlike other fruits or vegetables, cucumbers were believed in Medieval times to remain fresh for a long time, and because they grow from vines that regenerate year after year, they were linked to the idea of eternal life and resurrection.The peacock, often associated with immortality, reflects the ancient belief that its flesh never decayed.

On the bridge in the background, a man is seen reading a message handed to him by another man, delivered via the carrier pigeon in the cage beside the, a clever visual metaphor for the Annunciation itself. Around them, life in the town continues, oblivious to the momentous event unfolding before them. Only a small, innocent child, peering curiously around the corner, seems to take any notice. The rest of the world carries on as though nothing has changed, unaware that a new Christian era has begun in this very moment.

And look at Mary, there she is, humble, graceful, open, and ready to respond to the Lord's call…

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-26-38-2025/(with audio)