National Gallery Assignment

       
Duccio di Buoninsegna's medieval painting, The Annunciation (1311), depicts the Old Testament scene of the Virgin Mary as she is told that she will bear the son of God. Mary is shown on the right side of the painting with a book of scripture in her hand. The Angel Gabriel is facing her on the left side of the painting in mid-stride, her right arm outstretched toward  the virgin. A vase of lilies rests on the ground between the women and represents Mary's virginity. Descending in Mary's direction from the top of the painting is a dove, which symbolizes the Holy Ghost. The subjects are portrayed in some sort of synagogue, temple, or other building with a number of arches. 

In a Renaissance painting entitled Ansidei Madonna (1505), the artist, Raphael Sanzio, also paints a scene of Mary. It is after Christ is born however, with the baby Jesus and Mary on a throne. Nicholas of Bari stands to the right of the thrown with a staff while he reads a book. To the left of the throne is John the Baptist, who gazes up and points to Christ. The throne sits in front of a large archway that opens up to a landscape scene in the distance. 

Although the paintings depict similar subject matter, the Renaissance painting is indeed more aesthetically sophisticated. It is geometrically balanced with the two subjects on either side of the throne, creating visually pleasing thirds. It is clear that the artists of this era were getting a better grasp for three-dimensionality and perspective than those of the Medieval era. The architecture depicted in the Renaissance painting looks quite realistic, while the pillars and arches in the Medieval painting seem disproportionate and incorrectly drawn in regards to perspective. The human anatomy is much more life-like in the Renaissance painting. Careful details are used to show the muscles in the subjects' legs and arms and also the the bone structure of the face. These lines in the face help to create much emotion and life in the subjects, while the Medieval painting depicts the faces of the subjects with little emotion or individuality. The Medieval painting frames Mary under a gray colored arch while the rest of the arches in the building are painted burnt orange. The artist uses this color to create emphasis on Mary and to draw the eye of the viewer toward her.