Malchiostro Annunciation

The "Malchiostro Annunciation" is a striking painting by the renowned Italian Renaissance artist Titian, completed around 1520. This masterpiece is housed in the Cathedral of Treviso, situated in northern Italy.

The painting is located in the Malchiostro Chapel, commissioned by Broccardo Malchiostro and designed by Tullio di Antonio Lombardo. The chapel itself was completed in 1519 and was adorned with frescoes by Il Pordenone until 1520.

Titian painted the "Malchiostro Annunciation" around 1523, likely with some assistance from Paris Bordone. Intriguingly, the face of the donor within the painting may have been retouched after 1526. Another artist, Lorenzo Lotto, was so inspired by this work that he created his own piece, titled "Recanati Annunciation."

In the painting, the Annunciation scene unfolds in a church with a chessboard-patterned floor. Titian took a unique approach by placing the angel behind Mary in the foreground, bathed in divine light, while the donor is depicted kneeling in the center background. This deviation from traditional compositions adds a distinctive touch to the piece, underscoring Titian's exceptional artistry.