I was fascinated when I first saw this painting. I saw a picture painted in such dark colors and with a woman who doesn't look so happy and I couldn't believe that there can be a picture, which over these characteristics still exhales so positive and faithful energy. Then I looked on the name of the author and picture and I was decided to write about this special painting.
             Annunciation of Mary supposedly comes from Harmnsz Jan Rijn Rembrandt or from one of Rembrandt's students and it was created before 1660. It was painted by oil on canvas technique. It shows Mary in moment of annunciation, in moment of her great surprise, confusion and even slight fear.
             Mary is sitting in room with table covered with red tablecloth. She was probably reading a book just before the annunciation happened. I would guess that the book is Old Testament, because that was probably the only book that could be read by truly faithful Jewess at that time. (It is also slightly doubtful to me that she could have known how to read.) The book is painted as falling on the ground, dropped by Mary when she was disturbed by appearance of an Angel (Angel is not present on the painting). The room, where she is sitting, is dark with just Mary highlighted by strong source of magical light coming from left upper part of the room. Mary's dress is (I think) traditional Judaic cloths; she wears white raiment with orange covering over the raiment.
             Her emotional state and even partly her inner character are, by my opinion, perfectly expressed by her body position, movement of her arm and above all her facial expression. Her body is turned from the table she was sitting by to the source of the light. It looks like she is sliding from the chair with one knee almost touching the ground. The other leg is the only thing that helps her to keep sitting on the chair and not fall on her knees. It almost looks like she wants to kneel from fear and/or devotion. H...