Diptych - Annunciation, c.1450-55 (tempera on panel)

Working in Florence, Pesellino specialised in small-scale pictures for private devotion. The Annunciation was a common theme for such works: the angel Gabriel appears to Mary outside of her chamber to tell her that she will soon give birth to the son of God. Pesellino made a detailed drawing for this composition on the wooden panels before starting to paint, but he altered some details as he worked, including the outline of Gabriel’s face. This diptych is one of Pesellino’s most exquisite surviving works. Patrons admired his precise style, matched by the high quality of the materials he used. For example, Mary’s robe is painted with ultramarine, an expensive pigment made by grinding the semi-precious blue stone lapis lazuli, imported from Afghanistan. The lush colours and detailed description draw the viewer in, creating a strong sense of intimacy and heightened emotion