The Annunciation

The Annunciation (1576) in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an early Spanish work showing El Greco transitioning from his Italian manner toward the more visionary style he would develop over subsequent decades in Toledo. The composition retains Italian Renaissance spatial conventions — a room with recession and architectural framing — while the angel's figure already shows the elongation and the intensified color that would characterize his mature work. Gabriel descends with a dramatic gesture, the Virgin responds with a mixture of surprise and acceptance, and the dove of the Holy Spirit descends from above in a shower of light. The work marks the beginning of El Greco's transformation of conventional subject matter into personal spiritual vision.

The warm, Venetian-influenced palette is combined with the elongated figures and dramatic lighting that would characterize his mature style, with the angel's dynamic appearance creating a sense of supernatural irruption.