Devotional Series
Expressionist icons blending personal faith with vibrant color and symbolic depth

This piece "The Annunciation" is a meticulously rendered, two-panel composition that faithfully reproduces a classic medieval stained-glass Annunciation. On the left panel, the Virgin Mary sits in quiet contemplation, hands gently crossed over her chest, head modestly inclined, golden halo radiating against a rich red curtain and verdant landscape beyond (complete with a distant church tower and winding river). Above her, the Holy Spirit descends as a white dove on golden rays. The right panel shows the Archangel Gabriel in dynamic yet graceful profile: curly golden hair, ornate red-and-yellow robes trimmed in gold, large feathered wings in emerald and gold, and a tall fleur-de-lis scepter in one hand while the other gestures in blessing or announcement. Both figures are framed by the black “leading” lines that define true stained glass, with vibrant color fields—deep blues, glowing yellows, emerald greens, and ruby reds—separated into discrete panes.

The overall effect is luminous and jewel-like, as if sunlight were streaming through actual glass.

Critique of Jennie’s Work

Strengths This is a masterful technical and interpretive achievement. Jennie captures the flat, stylized beauty of Gothic stained glass while adding the subtle modeling and depth only possible in paint: the drapery folds feel weighty yet ethereal, the faces convey serene dignity (Mary’s downcast eyes are especially tender and believable), and the color palette sings with the same saturated intensity medieval glaziers achieved through metallic oxides. The composition is perfectly balanced across the two panels, with the dove acting as a strong visual and theological bridge. By simulating the lead lines and the segmented color blocks, she has not merely copied the window—she has translated its architectural essence into a portable, intimate format. The result feels reverent, luminous, and alive; it would glow beautifully in any setting, whether a gallery, home, or classroom. Her 20+ years of studio practice, curriculum development, and teaching clearly shine through in the precision, patience, and joy evident here.

Contrast with the Original Stained-Glass Work

Medieval German stained-glass Annunciations (such as the c. 1430 example in Ulm Cathedral or the many 13th–15th-century panels now in museums like the Cloisters) were never meant to be standalone “art objects.” They were collaborative, communal creations—designed, cut, painted, and leaded by workshops of glaziers, often for specific architectural programs in cathedrals, parish churches, or monasteries. Their primary purposes were didactic and liturgical:

• Education for the faithful: In an age of widespread illiteracy, these windows functioned as “Bibles in glass,” telling the pivotal moment of the Incarnation (Luke 1:26–38) so worshippers could literally see the Gospel as colored light.

• Theological symbolism: Stained glass itself was understood as a metaphor for Mary—the divine light (Christ) passes through her without breaking or diminishing her purity, just as sunlight passes through colored glass. The dove, the lily-like scepter, the halos, and the architectural framing all reinforce this mystery.

• Spiritual experience: Installed high in a church wall, the window changed throughout the day with the sun’s movement, making the scene feel alive and miraculous. Colors would shift, halos would flare, and the entire sanctuary would be bathed in jeweled light—literally illuminating the doctrine of the Word becoming flesh.

In contrast, Jennie’s painting is a personal, modern homage that democratizes that experience. It removes the work from its sacred architectural context and places it in the viewer’s hands (or living room), allowing prolonged, close study of every detail. Where the original relied on real transmitted light for its magic, her version creates the illusion of that light through pigment and skill, making the Annunciation accessible any time, any place. It also embodies the continuity of artistic tradition: a 21st-century studio artist, mother, teacher, and fundraiser (as her resume highlights) is keeping alive techniques and iconography that once required entire guilds and vast church budgets.

In short, the original window taught a community through divine light; Jennie’s painting teaches through devoted craft and invites personal encounter. It’s a beautiful bridge between medieval sacred art and contemporary studio practice—exactly the kind of work one would expect from a seasoned Fine Art educator with her depth of experience and passion.