The Annunciation, Tanner and Morneau

The Annunciation, 1898, by Henry Ossawa Tanner

On her bed of doubt
in wrinkled night garment,
She sat, glancing with fear
at the golden shaft of streaming light,
pondering perhaps, “Was this
but a sequel to a dream?”
This light too bright for disbelief,
yet its silence eased not her trembling.
Somehow she murmured a “YES”
And with that the light’s love and life
pierced her womb.
The room remained the same
– rug still needed smoothing,
– jug and paten awaited using.
Now all was different
In a maiden’s
soft but firm “FIAT.”

Bishop Robert F. Morneau

For a larger, clearer view of Henry O. Tanner's "The Annunciation," click on the photo above. Then you can better see the jug and paten at the wall on the right. This is my most favorite depiction of the Annunciation. The light that is the angel Gabriel simply mesmerizes me, and the look on Mary's face -- ah, I have never yet found words to adequately describe it. One picture really is worth a thousand words! In case you don't know, the original painting by Tanner is kept in the Philadelphia Musem of Art, so all you lucky people who live there or may be visiting there in the future, don't miss it! Meanwhile, here in Texas, I thank God for being able to view amazing art such as this on the Web.