This touching scene painted in gorgeously glowing colors is one of my favorite paintings. Mariotto Albertinelli's Visitation hangs in Room 25 of the Uffizi where Michelangelo's famous Doni Tondo captures the full attention of most visitors.
But this masterpiece of the early 16th century is certainly worth a few moments contemplation, and knowing the story from the Gospel of Luke will add to your enjoyment.
After the Angel Gabriel had given the Virgin Mary the shock of her life with the news that she was to bear the Son of God, he mentioned that her aged cousin Elizabeth was pregnant.
This pregnancy was also miraculous. Long past the age for childbearing, Elizabeth and her even more elderly husband Zachariah had accepted that theirs was a barren marriage. Then one day Gabriel appeared and told the astonished old man that his wife would soon become pregnant and that they should name the baby boy John.
This baby would grow up to be John the Baptist.
Perhaps because Joseph wasn't initially thrilled with the idea of his wife's holy pregnancy, Mary set off on an 80 mile journey to visit her cousin for a few months when she heard this happy and amazing news.
This painting depicts the moment of their meeting. Elizabeth rushes forward, grasps Mary's hand and embraces the younger woman tenderly. It is a moment of affection and deep connection between the two cousins. But it's also a moment of profound religious significance.
The Gospel says that when Elizabeth first beheld Mary, the babe in her womb "leapt for joy" in recognition, and Elizabeth understood that Mary's child would be her Lord. The words Elizabeth utters in greeting are those of the familiar prayer: "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee..."
Mary replies with another prayer, called the Magnificat: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour..."
These prayers were as well known in the Renaissance as they are to devout Catholics today. The scene also had a special relevance to the Florentines. John the Baptist was the city's patron saint, and all aspects of his story would have been instantly recognizable.
I always spend a few minutes with this painting when I am in the Uffizi and tell the story when we visit the museum with our tours. I hope you will seek it out--it's extraordinarily beautiful beyond what can be seen in reproduction.
