The Annunciation - Philippe de Champaigne (1602 - 1674)

"Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words.  Image and word illuminate each other."   CCC 1160

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The Annunciation - Philippe de Champaigne (c. 1644)

Philippe de Champaigne painted The Annunciation several times throughout his career, each time placing the Virgin Mary to the left, the Angel to the right and the Holy Spirit above.  Mary is shown wearing her signature blue cloak with a red chemise underneath. The blue represents her purity and royal status, while the red signifies motherhood and devotion.  

Luke 1:26-38

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 

The Annunciation - Philippe de Champaigne (c. 1636)

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

The Annunciation - Philippe de Champaigne (c. 1645)

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”  And the angel said to her in reply, “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, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who is called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”  Mary said, “Behold, I am thee handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done unto me according to your word.”  Then the angel departed from her."

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Picture Source - Public Domain
The Role of Religious Art in Faith Formation - Month of December 2019 Index

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