Botticelli painting heading to Jerusalem after Italy drops ban
The arrival of the "The Annunciation of San Martino alla Scala" was put on hold due to security concerns.
By JPOST.COM STAFFThe Annunciation of San Martino alla Scala by Botticelli(photo credit: Courtesy)
A painting by Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli whose appearance in Israel had been nixed over fears of conflict with Syria will now make its debut in Jerusalem as planned.The loan of "The Annunciation of San Martino alla Scala" had originally been slated to be moved from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem as a gesture from Italy to Israel marking the latter's 65th year of independence. But the Italian government put the transfer on hold after a US strike on Syria over its use of chemical weapons seemed likely. Now, however, the painting is in transit, and will go on show from Tuesday.The painting depicts a scene from the Christian bible involving the Virgin Mary and the archangel Gabriel, a figure of some significance in Judaism.
