"The Annunciation"
Arthur Hacker

This gorgeous Annunciation seems deeply personal to us. Gabriel is close to Mary's ear, whispering. See how he is coming down from Heaven, a spirit, made almost of mist and light? Mary's own mantle has that same quality, showing her holiness and purity. Then see the hard stone under her feet, the opposite of mist and light. The painter uses symbolism. Gabriel carries a lily with one in full bloom, lining lines up with Mary's face and posture. Note, too, the tree to our right, with two branches conjoining into one. Heaven and earth are coming together. Jesus is coming, with his two natures, human and divine.

Mary seems very vulnerable in this picture, yet she looks directly on to us. She is without sin, we know all too much of it. Her look is saying to us, See, your salvation is now at hand. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Arthur Hacker (1858-1919) was a prominent British painter, trained at the Royal Academy. This is perhaps his most famous painting today. Art critic Hannah Demaine says of it, "In person the painting is luminous and haunting. The magic lies in the connecting, lingering impression Mary's gaze makes upon the viewer." (source www.dailyartmagainze.com)

** IMPORTANT ** The image is smaller than the paper! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11, or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. Fine art printers do this because the images are usually different ratios than the rectangles of the paper. It gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in frames without using a matt.

- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!

Thanks!
Sue & John

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic Art.