Pondering the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

This lovely page from a Book of Hours was illustrated by Jean Bourdichon of Tours, who illuminated manuscripts for French royalty throughout his long and active life. Gabriel's pose is surprising. Perhaps the message has already been delivered in full and the angel awaits Mary's response?

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Gift of Peter Sharrer, 2004).

Pondering the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

"The Holy Spirit will overshadow you..." Gabriel explained to Mary. She understood what he left unsaid: Just as "the glory of the Lord" covered Mount Sinai with a cloud (Ex 24:16-18), and the same mysterious cloud "filled the Tent of Meeting" (Ex 40:34-38) and then the original Temple of Jerusalem (2 Chron 7:1-2), Mary herself would become God's dwelling place on earth.

This image, from a photo by Sister Sergia Ballini, FSP, is from the Franciscan Cloister of Mariaburg in Näfels, Switzerland. It appears to be a detail from a traditional Annunciation. 

Pondering the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

Annunciation by Lina Delpero. Photo by Sr Sergia Ballini, FSP.

Lina Maddalena Delpero is an Italian iconographer.