Annunciation, 19th Century, Oil Painting, Framed

Oil on panel. Central-Italian school of the second half of the 16th century.The sacred scene of the Annunciation has the two protagonist figures placed in the foreground in an interior that corresponds to Mary's room. The young woman is seated in front of a small wooden desk, supported by figures of angels, on which rests the prayer book and a small vase with little flowers; at her feet, the basket of sewing work.Mary has her body partially turned backward, in a contorted movement, almost of an attempt to escape, as if she wanted to get away from the other figure, that of the Archangel Gabriel. He is standing on the right, majestic and elegant, with one hand holding a lily and the 'other pointing upward above him, where the white dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, is emerging from a gap of light.In the background, tall columns with draperies surmount the platform on which Mary's bed rests. The composition recalls, in its figurative style and color choices, the already Mannerist painting of the schools of central Italy.In particular, there is a strong concordance in style and composition with some works of the same subject by the painter Bastiano Vini known as Bastiano Veronese (1525-1530/ 1602), who from about 1540 lived and worked in Pistoia.It is in that city that some of his Annunciations are found: in particular the one in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (an altarpiece over two meters in height).