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Among the many masterpieces exhibited in Florence, one of the most remarkable and moving, even overwhelming, is the Annunciation by Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455), which appears like a vision as you climb the stairs of the San Marco convent.
This large Annunciation is echoed by a second, smaller but equally sublime one, located in one of the cells.
But, from last September 26th until next January 25th (2026), another Annunciation is on display in a small sacristy of what is sometimes considered as the oldest pharmacy in the Western world: the Officina-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (it has now become an elegant perfume and body care store).
This new Annunciation, titled Annunciation II, after Fra Angelico, was painted on a hexagonal shaped canvas in 2017 by the English painter David Hockney (1937- ), whose very colorful style is easily recognizable.
It reimagines Fra Angelico's San Marco Annunciation using reverse perspective. Instead of the architecture converging to a vanishing point, the floorboards radiate outwards, and the columns widen as they recede. This technique invites the viewer into the space rather than positioning them outside.
The sacristy is decorated with frescoes painted by Mariotto di Nardo di Cione (c. 1360-1424).
The sacristy is decorated with frescoes painted by Mariotto di Nardo di Cione (c. 1360-1424).
Colour surges and brightens - fuchsia, electric blue, emerald, lemon - becoming far more intense than Fra Angelico's pastel palette
Do you like any of these paintings, and if so, which one resonates with you the most?
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
New bottle old wine
Among the many masterpieces exhibited in Florence , one of the most remarkable and moving, even overwhelming, is the Annunciation by Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455), which appears like a vision as you climb the stairs of the San Marco convent. This large Annu...
The one in the cell is sublime.
The beauty and… humanity of that moment really shines through - a young girl being given this incredible (in every sense) news, humbled, overawed, amazed, somewhat proud to have been chosen - yet still a teen, inexperienced and just at the start of her ad...
I love the way you describe this particular painting and, like you,
I find it fascinating. The emotion I felt about thirty years ago when I first discovered it was still intact, just as powerful, during this new encounter. Best, Emmanuel
Wonderful post — very informative — I find each version very appealing — but, there really is something very special about…
With the vibrant palette of color in the modern — and what a setting of contrast for its display — and the faces in the modern version are very warm and real. Thank you.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
And I agree that there is a lot to love about David Hockney's interpretation of this scene. I really regret not having been able to see the major exhibition dedicated to this painter at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris from last April to September. B...
Easily Angelico....
Hockney's style, admirable as it is, is simply too much for my taste.... The saturation and aesthetic touches are over the top in my perspective and opinion. Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful images . Cheers, Filip
I also rank Angelico much higher than Hockney.
But I don’t dislike his “pop” and saturated style, and it was interesting to see this modern take on an emblematic scene of traditional Christian painting. That said, the emotion I felt when rediscovering the San Marco convent, 30 years after my first vis...
This article in the NY Times,
sent to me by xto, expresses very well a lot of what the paintings of Angelico make me feel: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/opinion/fra-angelico-artist-paintings-faith.html?unlocked_article_code=1.yU8.mY4p.9NSceszQEYio&smid=url-share
Many resonances for me!
The Beato Angelico's Annunciazione was in my art history books when I was a young student in Italy. I like Hockney's work, even the digital artwork, which I could see in Bilbao some years ago. About this one, almost por art, it's just fantastic! Thanks fo...
Yes, almost pop art, I couldn't agree more
and it was a great pleasure to see this new interpretation of a classical and beautiful theme of Christian painting. The work was very well displayed in this dark sacristy, making the colors pop even more vibrantly. But the deepest, even mystic, feeling w...