The Annunciation
The artist
Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian Renaissance genius who was also an inventor and scientist. He painted this when he was only about twenty.
What you see
An angel with beautiful wings kneels in a garden to bring good news to a young woman named Mary, who sits quietly with a book.
The story
Leonardo painted this early work around 1472 while learning in his teacher's busy workshop in Florence.
The style
He filled the scene with careful detail, from the soft flowers in the grass to the misty mountains far away.
Look closer
Look closely at the angel's wings, which Leonardo painted to look just like the wings of a real bird.
Where to see it
You can visit this painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, one of the oldest art museums in the world.
Fun fact
It is one of Leonardo's very first paintings, made when he was still a young student learning his craft.