The Museo Diocesano di Pordenone preserves a surprising Annunciation: the angel and Mary have almond-shaped eyes, wear Eastern garments and are set in interiors that evoke China. More than that, the scene abandons any sense of theatricality and becomes intimate, with domestic details and moments of everyday life. The light and luminous treatment creates a suspended image, where the sacred message does not burst in, but settles gently into the space like a petal.
This watercolour drawing on paper belongs to the collection of Cardinal Celso Benigno Luigi Costantini (1876–1958) from Friuli, who served as Apostolic Delegate in the country between 1922 and 1933. He played a decisive role in promoting a form of Christian art that spoke the local language and reflected local culture, entrusting Chinese artists with the task of depicting Gospel themes in accordance with their own sensibilities.
