Description
The painting "The Annunciation" by artist Dieric The Elder Combates is a Flemish Renaissance masterpiece noted for its exquisite artistic style and intricacy of composition. This work measures 80 x 56 cm and is in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The composition of the painting is one of the most interesting features of this work. The scene is divided into two parts: in the upper part, the angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she is going to have a son, while in the lower part, Mary kneels in prayer. The arrangement of the characters is symmetrical and balanced, which creates a sense of harmony in the work.
Color is also a prominent aspect of "The Annunciation". Combates uses a soft and delicate color palette, including shades of pink, blue and gold. The golden details on the characters' clothing and on the angel's wings give the painting an air of elegance and sophistication.
The story behind the painting is also fascinating. Combates is believed to have painted this work in the late 15th century for the Church of Saint John in Leuven, Belgium. The painting was stolen several times over the centuries and was finally acquired by the Prado Museum in 1936.
In addition, there is a little known aspect about this work. If you look closely, you can see that there is a small Latin inscription at the bottom of the painting that reads "Dieric de Leodiis me fecit" (Dieric of Leuven made me). This inscription suggests that Combates identified himself as an artist from Louvain, rather than using his family name.
In short, "The Annunciation" is a Flemish Renaissance masterpiece noted for its artistic style, composition, color, and fascinating story. It is one of the jewels of the Museo del Prado collection and a work that continues to fascinate art lovers around the world.