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The Annunciation (folio 15 recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Mary gazes down at the angel Gabriel as he kneels reverently, like a humble messenger, delivering the news that Mary will give birth to the son of God. His multicolored wings are forced within the boundary line of the painting field, visually implying a sense of subordination. Unlike many of the paintings in the Mirror of Holiness , the Annunciation is a familiar subject in European art, but the emphases vary. The Indian version depicts her as a queen, with a crown held above her head and attendants standing by.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineThe Annunciation (folio 15 recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602–4. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569–1627). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; page: 26.2 x 15.4 cm (10 5/16 x 6 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 2005.145.15.a
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