The Annunciation to the Virgin, Adriaen van de Velde, 1667
oil on canvas, h 128cm × w 176cm × d 6.7cm More details
An angel has come down from the heaven with the message for Mary that she will give birth to the son of God. She asks for an explanation: how can she be pregnant when she has never been with a man? Van de Velde portrays the moment of initial disbelief with deep psychological insight. He probably painted this picture for a clandestine Catholic church in Amsterdam.
