Annunciation
Painting on wood panel • Leonardo da Vinci (and Andrea del Verrocchio). Often cited as Leonardo's first major primary commission while still in the workshop of Verrocchio.
Style & Movement
Early Italian Renaissance (Florentine School)
Medium & Technique
Oil and tempera on poplar panel. Techniques include sfumato (softening of transitions), glazing (for transparency in the Virgin's dress), and precise linear perspective in the architecture and sarcophagus-shaped lectern.
Creation Period
Circa 1472–1475
Dimensions & Format
98 cm × 217 cm (38.5 in × 85.5 in). It is an elongated horizontal landscape format, designed to be viewed from below and to the right, which explains some anatomical distortions in Mary’s right arm.
Subject Description
The biblical scene of the Archangel Gabriel kneeling before the Virgin Mary to announce she will conceive Jesus. Set in a 'hortus conclusus' (enclosed garden) featuring a diverse array of botanically accurate flowers. A Renaissance dwelling sits to the right, with a distant port and alp-like mountains in 'aerial perspective' in the background. Symbolism includes the Madonna lilies held by Gabriel (purity) and the classical sarcophagus-lectern (reference to Verrocchio’s tomb for Piero and Giovanni de' Medici).
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The painting has undergone various restorations over centuries but retains its structural integrity and vibrant pigments. The surface shows some age-appropriate craquelure.
Estimated Market Value
Priceless / Inestimable. As a work by Da Vinci in a major national museum, it is a world treasure and would likely exceed $500 million if ever sold.
Auction Estimate
N/A (National Treasure). Hypothetically, it would break all existing art market records, exceeding the $450.3 million paid for the Salvator Mundi.
Provenance History
Originally painted for the San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto monastery near Florence. It remained there until 1867 when it was moved to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where it has stayed since.
Art Historical Significance
It represents a pivotal moment in the transition from Verrocchio’s sculptural style to Leonardo’s atmospheric sfumato. It showcases Leonardo’s early mastery of nature, botanical scientific observation, and his unique approach to atmospheric perspective. It is one of only about 15-20 surviving paintings attributed to him.
Notable Features
The wings of the angel are modeled after those of a real bird (possibly a red kite), a hallmark of Leonardo's interest in flight. The stone lectern is a direct homage to the tomb of Piero and Giovanni de' Medici by his master, Verrocchio.
Condition Issues
Historical yellowing of varnishes (mostly addressed in 1867 and later cleanings), minor paint losses along the panel joins, and slight wood warping characteristic of 15th-century poplar.
Conservation Recommendations
Strictly controlled climate (humidity 50% +/- 5%, temperature 20°C), UV-filtered non-reflective museum glass, and periodic monitoring of the wood panel for any signs of movement or pest activity.