The painting "Annunciation", created by the Dutch painter Jan van Eyck in 1434, was once one of the doors of the now lost triptych.
The Annunciation itself is considered a particularly important moment in the history of Christianity, and van Eyck tried to fit in his work so many symbolic elements that many of the secrets of this work have not yet been revealed.
But what sacred symbols does this biblical masterpiece hide in itself?
There is a version according to which the prototype for Mary was Isabella of Portugal, the third wife of Philip III the Good, Duke of Burgundy.
This version finds its confirmation in the clothes of the saint: she is depicted in blue clothes that are quite characteristic of traditional iconography (symbolizing purity), but decoration with ermine in those days was exclusively a privilege and a symbol of the royal family.
Isabella of Portugal and Philip the Good. Portrait of an unknown artist of the 16th century.
However, it is worth noting that in the Middle Ages it was very popular to emphasize the noble lineage of the mother of Christ.
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The angel who has appeared is also depicted in a very unusual manner: he is dressed in a rich brocade tunic and a robe with a border of precious stones.
Pointing to the sky, he symbolically communicates that he is fulfilling a divine mission.
Of course, the work lacks some realism, but given the biblical storyline, it was clearly not required.
It is noteworthy that the characters are inextricably linked with the surrounding architecture, which is presented in the Romano - Gothic style.
New Testament events surround the Old Testament images on the floor and walls of the temple, but only those are shown that were considered a prototype of the coming of Christ as the Messiah.
The floor is covered with tiles, one of which depicts David killing Goliath, which portends the triumph of Christ over the devil. On the other, Samson destroys the temple of the Philistines.
The rest of the events depicted are peculiar prototypes of the crucifixion, the Last Judgment and other New Testament events in accordance with the Medieval views.
On the back wall, near the triple stained glass window (symbolizing the Trinity) with the image of the Bag of the Father, according to some researchers, Moses' reception of the Tablets of the Covenant is shown.
This event is depicted in the twilight (unlike the Annunciation itself), which can also symbolize the transition from the old Commandments to the new and from the Old Testament to the New.
Unfortunately, van Eyck did not leave any notes that could shed light on the true meaning of all the symbols hidden in his work, and it may take more than a decade to solve most of them.
