Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Annunciation

As we enter Holy Week, sorrows are depicted in the mournful face and thorny roses of the 1927 Annonciation Douleureuse by Leon Frederic. (Mary has a rosary in her lap; maybe a hint for you and me to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries in a special way.)

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, one of the two days in the year (the other is Christmas) when we genuflect at the words of the Creed: and was Incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. That matches well today's "liturgical" depiction of the Annunciation by Maurice Denis, who was just 18 years old when he painted Le Mystère Catholique. Read more about the piece and about the devout Catholic artist at The Art Story.

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

Since the Solemnity of St Joseph falls this week, and we are in the Year of St. Joseph, I thought it would be fitting to feature an Annunciation to Joseph for our contemplation. 

This image, from the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, is by Francisco Rizi, a 17th century Spanish artist, who splendidly illustrates the Gospel of Matthew (1:18-21): 

When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 

 

Courtesy of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

This lovely fresco (early 15th century) by Pietro di Miniato is from the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. I took this photo myself in 2019, but (I confess) used a computer program to adjust the perspective (somewhat), since my position (about 25 feet beneath Gabriel's feet) really distorted the image. 

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

From Instagram comes this modern Annunciation by a fellow Louisianian with a special interest in Theology of the Body, Blair Barlow!

The Annunciation is part of a four-piece altar set commissioned for a church in Rhode Island.

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