The Annunciation and Visitation
14th century
Fresco
Pomposa Abbey, Italy
On the left Gabriel kneels and offers a stalk of flowers to Mary as a dove approaches. At her right on a bookstand is the volume of scripture she has been studying. Her throne is a detail of ancient vintage, but the stalk and the angel's kneeling posture are more medieval.
On the right Elizabeth, outside the gates of her city in Judah, greets Mary, who is dressed in the same blue garments as in the Annunciation scene. The young woman at Mary's back is most likely one of the virgins who accompanied her after she was betrothed to Joseph.
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Photographed at the site by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.