The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 23, 2024

The Annunciation and The Nativity

The Annunciation and The Nativity

c. 1457
(Spanish, Catalonia died c. 1460/70)
Spain, Catalonia, 15th century
oil, tempera, and gold on wood panel (fir)
Framed: 186.5 x 139 x 14.5 cm (73 7/16 x 54 3/4 x 5 11/16 in.); Unframed: 172 x 124.7 cm (67 11/16 x 49 1/8 in.)
Gift of Francis Ginn, Marian Ginn Jones, Barbara Ginn Griesinger, and Alexander Ginn in memory of Frank Hadley Ginn and Cornelia Root Ginn 1953.660
Location: 110B Late Gothic

Description

These paintings are believed to be the remaining components of a six-panel altarpiece. The large central panel is now preserved in Barcelona (Museu National d’Art de Catalunya). Ferrer collaborated with the painter Pere Garcia de Benavarri on this commission. Spanish works like these often feature elaborate treatment of the gold background, evident here in the exuberant raised decoration (called pastiglia) in the skies and the haloes, as well as other details. Here the Archangel Gabriel proclaims the Virgin’s destiny as the mother of Christ. The setting is an ordinary house, but simple objects have symbolic meaning. The lilies represent the Virgin’s purity; the covered jar and water carafe symbolize inviolability; the pomegranate symbolizes Christ’s resurrection, while the apple alludes to humankind’s fall from grace. The two books, closed and open, refer respectively to the Old and New Testaments: one foretelling and the other fulfilling the promise of the messiah. Both The Annunciation and The Nativity were components of a large altarpiece probably dedicated to the Virgin. Spanish works like these often feature elaborate treatment of the gold background, evident here in the exuberant raised decoration (called pastiglia) in the skies and haloes, as well as other details such as the vase of lilies in the Annunciation. The Annunciation The archangel Gabriel, gesturing toward God in a window above, proclaims the Virgin's destiny as the mother of Christ. Gabriel holds a scroll with the words from the New Testament (in Latin) "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." The angels in the sky hold another scroll proclaiming: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to good people on earth". The simple objects surrounding the Virgin appear to be the furnishings of an ordinary house, but they carry symbolic meaning. The lilies represent the Virgin's purity; the covered jar and the water carafe symbolize inviolability. The towel and basin hint at ritual cleansing during Mass. The blown out candle points to the arrival of divine light in the world. The pomegranate symbolizes Christ's resurrection, while the apple alludes to humankind's fall from grace. The two books, closed and open, refer respectively to the Old and New testaments: one foretelling and the other fulfilling the promise of the Messiah.
  • c. 1457-1908
    Church in Peralta de la Sal, sold to Celestino Dupont
    1908-?
    Celestino Dupont, France
    ?-1938
    French and Company, New York, NY, sold to Frank H. Ginn
    1938-1953
    Frank H. Ginn, Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1953-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 406 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 73 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 73 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art. Catalogue of Paintings. Pt. 1. European Paintings before 1500. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974. Reproduced: fig. 58 & fig. 59, p. 162 - 165
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 83 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=The Annunciation and The Nativity|url=false|author=Jaume Ferrer the Younger|year=c. 1457|access-date=23 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.660