The actual masterwork “Annunziata” by Antonello da Messina (c. 1430-1479) may be seen at the Palazzo Abatellis (the Gallery of Art for the Region of Sicily) in Palermo. The feast day, Annunziata or “Virgin Annunciate,” is celebrated on March 25. It recognizes when the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was chosen to give birth to Jesus. Da Messina painted his breathtaking work towards the end of his life, around 1476. The original is oil on wood.
This depiction of Da Messina’s masterpiece, photographed in Palermo, is one example from the trend of street art that has popped up on walls throughout Sicily. With Mary’s eyes covered and a paintbrush in her hand, what message is the contemporary artist sending? What are your thoughts about this depiction?
