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The Annunciation
Historical Context
This Annunciation by Jean Hey, identified as the Master of Moulins, is one of the finest examples of late 15th-century French painting. Hey served the Bourbon court at Moulins, producing works that synthesized Flemish naturalism with the courtly refinement of French taste. The panel presents the moment of Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin with an intimacy and spiritual gravity that reflects the devotional practices of the Bourbon household.
Technical Analysis
Hey's technique demonstrates exceptional command of oil glazing on panel, with translucent layers creating luminous skin tones and shimmering fabrics. The careful perspectival construction and crystalline light recall Hugo van der Goes, whose work profoundly influenced French court painters.
Provenance
Private collection, Paris, 1906 [according to Friedländer 1925]. Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, London, 1906–14; sold to Martin A. Ryerson (d. 1932), Chicago, 1914 [invoice dated June 1914, Art Institute Archives.]; on loan to the AIC from 1914; bequeathed to the AIC, 1933.
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