"annunciation" Francesco Albani, (bologna, 1578 - 1660) Workshop

"Annunciation"
Francesco Albani, (Bologna, 1578 - 1660) workshop
Oil on canvas
Antique, carved and gilded frame
Canvas 40 x 53 cm
Frame  50 x 63 cm
Excellent condition

This splendid canvas, painted with great finesse, depicts the most fascinating scene in the Gospels: the apparition of the Archangel Gabriel before the Virgin to announce the extraordinary event of the incarnation of Christ, the Son of God, in her womb.
The Divine Messenger kneels before her with his hands crossed on his chest and holds lilies, a symbol of purity, above his head. The Madonna, with open arms, gazes upward in a gesture of welcoming the divine gift of God and the White Dove of the Holy Spirit.
The dove and the radiant figure of God the Father are surrounded by a host of angels.
This is one of several replicas of the painting Francesco Albani executed around 1645 for the Marquis of Menars in France. It later came to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where it is still on display and is considered one of the fundamental texts of Bolognese classicism, on a par with the masterpieces of Guido Reni.
The remarkable quality of the work, painted with a light hand and first-rate pictorial technique, leads to its attribution to a talented pupil working in Albani's Bolognese workshop, which usually reproduced the master's successful compositions of this subject, on a smaller scale and tailored to private needs. The magnificent chromaticism of the scene is noteworthy, with the vibrant colors remaining as vibrant as in the original painting.
This excellent workshop replica is among the products that best demonstrate the success achieved by the Bolognese painter among collectors.
The painting is in excellent condition, with no restorations or overpainting. A beautiful antique frame, carved and gilded, perfectly completes the work.