Art Reading Scripture

The Annunciation, Leonardo Da Vinci, 1472, Uffizi Gallery Florence, Italy

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of Mary. The virgin's name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27

The Annunciation was a very popular subject for painters through the centuries. I recently picked up a book with 100 masterpieces depicting this scene. The book does not include Da Vinci's well known painting. The pattern for Da Vinci's painting was well established. A mosaic from the 1200's as well as numerous paintings from the 1300's depict the angel Gabriel greeting Mary from the left side of the painting while Mary is seated with a book on the right hand side of the painting.

Luke wrote that this encounter took place in Nazareth, where presumably both Mary and Joseph lived. They were engaged but not yet married. They had not yet moved in or slept together. Traditionally the date of the annunciation is March 25, 9 months before Jesus birth, traditionally celebrated on December 25. Gabriel's greeting was unique among similar stories of an angel or a messenger of God, announcing an unexpected birth, (Abraham and Sarah: Isaac, Manoah: Samson, Hannah: Samuel, A woman of Shunem: an Elisha story, Zechariah and Elizabeth: John). Each of these could be called annunciations, since the word simply means "announcement" or "proclamation" biblically associated with an unexpected birth. This annunciation bear greater significance for the world and the church.

Symbols of Mary's purity and the church's high view of Mary abound in the painting. The scene takes place in an enclosed garden, symbol of Mary's perpetual virginity. "A garden enclosed is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed." Song of Songs 4:12 Jerome (347-420) defender of Mary's perpetual virginity, referring through Jesus passing through closed doors to greet the disciples on Easter Eve, wrote, "Would you like to know how he is born of a virgin, and after his nativity, the mother is still a virgin? 'The doors were closed, and Jesus entered.'"

The church's high esteem of Mary sets the scene in a renaissance palace, rather than a humble abode in Nazareth. Gabriel kneels, as before a queen bearing a lily, another symbol of purity. By the 5th century the church commonly referred to Mary as "Queen of Heaven," and "Mother of God." Mary wears her halo like a crown. Gabriel lifts his hand in blessing towards Mary, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." Though Luke does not make the reference, Matthew calls the child to be born, Emmanuel, God with us. Meanwhile Mary, lavishly robed in royal blue, sits before an open book, her right hand holding the book open to a page she has been reading. The text of the book is a passage from Isaiah, "Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel." Isaiah made this announcement in the presence of King Ahaz. Her left hand, drawn away from the angel, is raised in greeting, (the permission of a queen to a subject?). Or, is she hesitant, holding her hand in a gesture that says, "Stop"? Other Annunciation paintings will draw out the idea of reluctance on the part of Mary to this unusual greeting and commission.

Da Vinci's painting also emphasizes the incarnation, God made flesh, or God becoming fully a part of this material world. The lush garden in which the angel kneels is filled with flowers and a rich carpet of grasses. The garden is not completely enclosed but opens out to a world of trees, a river or seaport, and a distant soaring mountain. In the gap of the wall Mary's symbol of purity fills the space. However, Mary is separated from fallen creation where she sits on pavement at the entrance to the palace. Her purity is unsullied by this broken and fallen world. Is there an allusion to the gates of paradise, the garden of Eden which were closed when Adam and Eve were expelled because of sin, now being reopened because Mary the new Eve, bearer of life for the world is filled with the new Adam, Jesus? God once again walks with his people in the garden of paradise, only this time meeting the world redeemed and unashamed.

Da Vinci painted an idealized vision of a scene that Luke set in a small, humble village in Galilee. In contrast to Mary, who refers to herself a "lowly ... servant," Da Vinci paints her in rich attire, well educated, pure, and enthroned on a patio untouched by the material world. Mary is receptive per her, "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Other painters honored Mary's status for the faith, but highlighted expressions of surprise, reluctance and uncertainty in reaction to such an astounding announcement.

Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.

Pastor Tim Bauer