The Annunciation 2 by El Greco

This superb sacred composition embodies the quintessence of the mystical style developed by the artist at the height of his Spanish artistic career. Known under the name of “The Annunciation 2”, the masterpiece reflects El Greco’s unique aesthetic, where forms elongate to translate the soul’s aspiration towards the divine. Through this celestial face-to-face, the painter delivers a highly poetic and solemn interpretation of a Christian mystery, favoring a total spiritual immersion for the viewer.

A graceful female figure is seated on the left, her body slightly bent towards a dark desk where an open book rests. Wearing a transparent lace veil, she wears a pink dress and a blue cloak that drapes her legs. Her eyes rise towards the divine messenger floating on the right above a greyish cloud. This majestic angel with deployed bicolor wings wears a golden tunic and holds a bouquet of white lilies. Between them, a white dove cleaves the air amid luminous lightning flashes that tear through the bluish-grey cloudy background. In the foreground, a precious vase containing flowering branches completes the scene.

Technical dexterity is manifested in the superb rendering of the divine light that sculpts volumes in a dramatic way. The artist handles the brush with incredible gestural freedom, giving a unique vibration to the fabrics and textured wings. It is a masterful demonstration of an extraordinary pictorial know-how.