I'm supposed to be offline today, because it's a Friday in Lent. But it's also a feast day, so I'm allowing myself brief visits.
I always think of Fra Angelico's Annunciation on this day. I am far from a connoiseur of the visual arts, and often feel a little guilty that I don't respond very fervently to most art on religious themes. But I loved this painting the moment I set eyes on it, many years ago, and I still do. Most depictions of Mary leave me cold, and many are actually off-putting, and obstruct rather than enhance my sense of devotion. But I find her face here enchanting, a look of pure willing unfearing expectancy. This image was lifted from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's site. Google image search found some that have more vivid color, but this one is large enough (click on it) to show more detail.
That painting is one of my favourites too. I have seen the original in Florence.
Posted by: Craig | 03/25/2011 at 01:44 PM
Was this it? Nothing more on the side?
A Blessed Feast Day to you and everyone.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 03/25/2011 at 01:59 PM
That's addressed to Craig, right, not me?
Posted by: Mac | 03/25/2011 at 02:55 PM
Fra Angelico painted another very similar Annunciation, which shows Adam and Eve being cast out of Eden on the left-hand side. I posted it today at my blog.
Posted by: Craig | 03/25/2011 at 03:03 PM
Yeah, that's the one Janet is thinking of. I like it, too. Possibly superior taken as a whole, but it lacks that look on the Virgin's face that I love so much.
Posted by: Mac | 03/25/2011 at 03:54 PM
Blessed Fra Angelico is my favorite Western Christian artist and this is my favorite painting by him. It is stunning in real life, on the wall of the monastery in Florence...
Posted by: Daniel Nichols | 03/25/2011 at 04:55 PM
Well, as to whom it was addressed the part about a Blessed Feast Day is addressed to you too. :-)
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 03/25/2011 at 05:18 PM
You have to listen to Bach's setting of the Magnificat, where, when the text gets to the part about how "all generations" will call the Virgin "blessed," the chorus pops in and goes crazy singing the "OMNES generationes" -- evidently Bach was one Lutheran who had no problem with her title.
Posted by: Dale | 03/27/2011 at 07:03 PM
I have heard it, but it's been a while, and I guess I didn't pay very close attention, because I don't remember that.
I used to be confused by the fact that Bach wrote a Mass in B minor. I guess things were somewhat fluid at that place and time.
Posted by: Mac | 03/27/2011 at 08:43 PM