The Annunciation, Alessandro Allori (Florence, 1535 – Florence, 1607) Follower of

The Annunciation

Florentine painter, 17th/18th century
Follower of Alessandro Allori (Florence, 1535 – Florence, 1607)

Oil painting on canvas
cm. 45 x 58 – In frame cm. 55 x 68

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Splendid canvas celebrating the theme of the Annunciation, the moment in which the archangel Gabriel brings Mary the news that she will give birth to the Son of God, according to a typology very popular from the last years of the 16th century to the first half of the following century.

On the left, the Archangel Gabriel is depicted with his hands crossed on his chest, captured in the moment of the supreme announcement, with his eyes half-closed in an attitude of devotion. In his presence is portrayed the young Virgin, seated on an armchair that seems like a throne, while she turns her gaze upwards towards the dove of the Holy Spirit.

A diagonal ray of light unites her gaze with God the Father, at the top left, on whom is imprinted, as in a mirror, the Latin phrase 'Ecce ancilla Domini' (behold the handmaid of the Lord), the Virgin's response to the announcement.

The canvas is of excellent quality, embellished by the gold finishes of the halos that frame the faces. The painter highlights the beauty of the Virgin, interpreted as an ethereal woman, characterized by the candor of her complexion.

Great attention was paid to details, from the wooden throne decorated with geometric motifs, to a lace curtain above, probably worked with bobbin lace, and a beautiful carpet on the floor.

The work draws inspiration from the well-known fresco in the Basilica dell'Annunziata in Florence, executed around 1250, with stylistic characteristics that place it without hesitation in the Florentine figurative culture of the seventeenth century: more precisely, we can search for its author among the followers of the Florentine Alessandro Allori.

The painter, like many Florentine artists of his time, made numerous copies of the fresco, entire or partial, commissioned by the grand ducal family and by noble Florentine families as objects of private devotion or gifts to be sent to eminent personalities, or at the request of even foreign clients.

Among these, we can mention the small painting on copper, signed and dated by Alessandro Allori in 1606, now in the Pitti Palace in Florence (https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0900297026). At the Museo del Duomo in Milan there is also a copy of the painting by Allori himself from 1579, commissioned by Francesco I de' Medici as a gift for Cardinal Federico Borromeo.
And again the Annunciation always attributed to Allori exhibited in the choir of the Monte dei Cappuccini (https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0900620035), the one in the San Domenico Museum in Bologna (https://bbcc.regione.emilia-romagna.it/pater/loadcard.do?id_card=263428&force=1).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with a pleasant gilded wooden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.

We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

In case of purchase of the work by non-Italian customers it will be necessary to obtain an export permit which requires approximately 10/20 days, our gallery will take care of the entire phase until obtaining it. All costs of this procedure are included.

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