“The Annunciation (Fragment)” is a work by the artist Duccio, created between 1308 and 1311. This piece is a religious painting made using tempera on wood, and it belongs to the Proto Renaissance art movement. It forms part of the series known as the “Maesta.”
The artwork depicts a figure, which can be assumed to be the angel Gabriel, based on the subject matter. The angel is shown in profile, with a serene and focused expression, extending one hand forward. The angel is adorned in a blue robe with a pinkish-red cloak draped over it. This figure also has a golden halo around the head, a typical feature in religious painting to denote holiness or divinity. Behind the angel, a set of large, delicately painted wings can be seen, suggesting the figure’s heavenly origins. A pot with lilies is positioned in the bottom right corner, often symbolic of Mary’s purity in Christian iconography.
The background consists of a simple architectural setting with red-toned walls, emphasizing the angel figure in the foreground. The use of color and delicate line work is representative of the Proto Renaissance style, which began to explore more naturalistic and three-dimensional forms compared to the preceding Byzantine art. The visibility of the cracks and craquelure on the surface of the painting highlights its age and the tempera’s delicate nature on the wooden panel.
