Crivelli's 'Annunciation with Saint Emidius' : A longer look

Excellent morning’s workshop at the National Gallery led by Dr Richard Stemp looking in detail at the gallery’s Annunciation by Crivelli.

We began by talking about who Crivelli was and where he was working then spent a nice long time at the picture looking at it in detail and talking about its meaning as we spotted things in it. The session had a feeling of discovery about it rather than following a set lecture type pattern. I was fascinated with why certain anachronistic items such as the gourd and apple seemed to come out of the painting towards you. It was also interesting to hear why the painting was produced and what it celebrated.

I have always been fond of this picture with its odd mix of a real scene and city but with a mystical event happening in the middle of it. The morning made me look at it afresh and with the added knowledge to inform my viewing.

 

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