The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner
"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name Jesus...
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word."
Luke 1:28-31, 37-38 King James Version
There are hundreds of Annunciation paintings,
but this one is my favorite.
Henry Ossawa Tanner, a realist, painted Mary as she may have been--woken from her sleep, trying to understand the meaning of this vision, and visibly troubled.
Sweet Mary, a virgin, favoured of God.
Trying to follow Him.
Trying to understand, to comprehend.
Knowing that her life was changing forever.
Realizing what this meant in her betrothal to Joseph and hoping he would understand.
Knowing the strictness of the Jewish law.
Wondering how things would work out.
Knowing that God would make a way.
Turning to Him.
"Behold, the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word."
