Here is Rossetti's take on the Annunciation (the story of Mary being told by the angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of Jesus). Painted in 1850 when Rossetti was just 22 years old, it conforms to many of the traditional features of an Annunciation.

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Mary is alone. There are two hangings in blue and red -- Mary's traditional colours; the angel carries a stem of white lilies signifying Mary's virginity. The Holy Spirit is present in the form of a dove.

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But there are some startling innovations. We don't realise this today, but Mary is in her Victorian nightclothes. Gabriel is barely clothed at all: a slight breeze and his nakedness will be revealed to Mary. Most disturbing of all is Mary's posture and the expression of her face.

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Countless church sermons have been preached on this passage extolling Mary's submissiveness and obedience. But a simple examination of the Biblical text shows that Mary was never asked a question; she was presented with an ultimatum. Mary wasn't required to obey. According to the text God had already chosen her to be a vessel, an incubation chamber, for God's purposes. No 'Yes' (beloved of hymn writers) was sought or needed. It is true that Mary utters an acquiesence (Be it unto me, according to your word), but this is to a fait accompli.

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More than one art historian has pointed out that Mary has her back against the wall, physically and metaphorically. Some have noted how the stem of the lilies is pointed (aggressively?) at Mary's womb. Contrary to all those blissful sermons, Rossetti seems to have painted a violation*.

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There is no way of knowing if this was on the artist's mind as he composed this painting, but it is open to that interpretation by us who see it now.

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So this becomes an interesting example of how a painting can challenge dominant views. Rossetti was not a formal theologian (although his sister clearly thought theologically**), but his painting offers a wedge which might bring down gender injustice. Alongside those sermons on submissiveness etc, preaching about Mary traditionally emphasised her two redeeming qualities - those to which all women should aspire: Virginity and Motherhood ***

 

So this impressive painting, created by a young man, proves to be quite disruptive.

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* 

This Bible passage in Luke says nothing about the true nature of God. Instead, it tells us a great deal about the assumptions and attitudes of the person who wrote it.

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**

Christina Rossetti: In the Bleak Midwinter, Love Came Down at Christmas and others

 https://hymnary.org/person/Rossetti_CG

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***

As far as I know, no-one has suggested that women try both at the same time, but the Church is an interesting place ...