The Vase in Paintings of the Annunciation, a Polyvalent Symbol of the Virgin Mary

This article tries to highlight the deep doctrinal meanings underlying vase that is often included in artistic depictions of Annunciation. apparently banal everyday object has been deliberately placed there a prominent position symbolize Virgin Mary her condition as virginal mother God Son, and bearer all virtues highest degree. As methodological resources justify our iconographic interpretations symbol these images, study based on analysis texts by several Church Fathers medieval theologians, well numerous liturgical hymns, which for more than millennium agreed designate “vase”, “vessel”, other types containers. Thus, this ancient patristic, theological hymnographic tradition legitimizes interpretation “vase” fifteen paintings Annunciation produced artists from Italy, Flanders Spain during 14th 15th centuries.