The artwork entitled “The Annunciation,” created by John William Waterhouse in 1914, is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 41.9 x 73 cm. As a piece of Romanticism, it falls into the genre of religious painting and is currently housed in a private collection.
In the artwork, the scene depicts the biblical moment of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus. The Angel Gabriel, clad in a flowing white garment, extends a white lily, symbolizing purity, towards Mary, who sits on a bed draped in white linens. Mary appears contemplative and serene, while a soft, ambient light bathes the scene, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The use of vibrant yet soothing colors enhances the spiritual and celestial theme of the painting, characteristic of Waterhouse’s Romantic style.