Anselm of Canterbury, Saint 45the divine message to Christ’s human mother. The com-
position usually contained a small number of people,
two, or three, with or without the HOLYSPIRIT, sometimes
portrayed as a dove. The two main actors belong to two
different universes, heaven and Earth. The archangel
often seems dominant and active, whereas Mary usually
seems meek and passive. Artists portrayed the scene from
the perspectives of the indoors and outdoors. After the
growth of devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the 12th cen-
tury, Mary became much more central, often shown sur-
prised while reading a book. The Annunciation is also a
feast celebrated on March 25, Lady Day.
See alsoCHRISTOLOGY AND CHRISTOLOGICAL CONTRO-
VERSY.
Further reading:Don Denny, The Annunciation from
the Right: From Early Christian Times to the Sixteenth
Century(New York: Garland, 1977).Anselm of Canterbury, Saint (Anselm of Aosta)Ital-
ian prelate, theologian, doctor of the church, archbishop of
Canterbury
Anselm was born about 1033 at Aosta in the Italian Alps.
His family was noble and seems to have been related to