Annunciation
c.1590 - 1603
El Greco’s dramatic take on the Annunciation ditches the calm, serene vibes of earlier Renaissance artists for something much more electric. Notice how the angel Gabriel seems to be crashing down from a stormy, supernatural sky, while Mary looks up in startled awe rather than peaceful acceptance. Painted around 1600 for a church in Madrid, this masterpiece is a perfect example of El Greco’s signature style: elongated figures, swirling colors, and an intense, almost otherworldly spiritual energy that practically leaps off the canvas.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid