Annunciation by Bernardo Strozzi is a significant example of the artist’s religious production, distinguished by an intense, direct, and profoundly theatrical visual language. A Genoese painter active in both Genoa and Venice, Strozzi developed a highly personal style, combining the dramatic use of light derived from Caravaggio with a freer, more vibrant handling of paint influenced by the Venetian colourist tradition.
In this work, the moment of the Annunciation is presented through a close, intimate composition focused entirely on the two protagonists. The angel, positioned to the left, gestures towards the dove of the Holy Spirit, while the Virgin receives the message with a composed and attentive gesture. The dialogue between the two figures is conveyed through their gazes, hands, and restrained movements, without the distraction of superfluous architectural elements.
Moreover, the dark background isolates the scene, enhancing the effects of light on the flesh tones, drapery, and the open book. The intense red of the Virgin’s mantle, contrasted with luminous whites and deep shadows, reinforces the emotional power of the composition.
The painting’s inclusion in major publications devoted to Strozzi and the Lauro Collection further confirms the significance of a work of remarkable devotional intensity, in which light, colour, and spiritual expression coexist in perfect balance.
Description: Oil on canvas, H cm 134 × 96; with frame H cm 150 × 111.
Publications: Stanze Bolognesi. La Collezione Lauro, edited by D. Benati and P. Giordani, Milan, 1994, p. 79, fig. 36; L. Mortari, Bernardo Strozzi, Rome, 1966, p. 150, fig. 158.
Hammer Price: € 47.500,00
Auction 64 – 25 October 2023 – Dimore
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