The Annunciation

The Archangel Gabriel kneels before Mary, presenting a lily branch, while she gestures toward her chest in a sign of humble acceptance. Above them, a radiant light breaks through swirling clouds crowded with cherubim, centering on a dove. The composition is marked by the dynamic, billowing drapery and soft, atmospheric lighting characteristic of late 16th-century Mannerist engraving.

This print is part of Goltzius's 'Masterpieces' series, where he demonstrated his 'Protean' ability to emulate the styles of other masters—in this case, Federico Barocci. The accompanying inscription explicitly references Proteus, a figure central to Renaissance Neoplatonism (notably in Pico della Mirandola) representing the transformative power of the human spirit and the artist's ability to manipulate form.