1 -- L'Annunciazione

(The Annunciation)
1981
Isabel Piczek/Ilario da Viterbo
7'4"H x 11'W

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History behind the Piece

On August 2, 1769, the Portola expedition, which was marching to Monterey Bay to establish a Spanish claim to Alta California, camped along the Los Angeles River. They named the river El Rio de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula in recognition of the Jubilee of Our Lady of Los Angeles of the Porciuncula which was observed the previous day. This important celebration in the Franciscan calendar remembers the day when St. Francis of Assisi founded his Order in 1208 and honors the village chapel (the Porziuncola of little portion of land) where he as inspired.

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The Piece

Now totally enclosed within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli near Assisi, the Porziuncola has a six-part mural painted on the sanctuary wall in 1393 by Ilario da Viterbo. The central panel, L'Annunciazione, depicts the Archangel Gabriel announcing the divinity of Christ to the Virgin Mary as she received the Holy Spirit from angels surrounding God in Heaven. This section was replicated by Piczek in Byzantine tesserae from Italy, and was dedicated on September 4, 1981 -- the Los Angeles Bicentennial -- by Cardinal Timothy Manning as a reminder of the religious connection to the naming of our city. The mosaic is located at the same place on the facade of the Plaza Church where Henri Joseph Penelon executed a fresco in 1861 which depicted two angels and Our Lady holding an infant Jesus. The fresco was the earliest outdoor public mural in Los Angeles and remained visible until 1950 when it was plastered over.

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The Artist

Isabel Piczek (1941 - ), was born in Hungary. She completed her first mural at age 14 in the famed Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. She has executed murals in Austria, Germany and Canada before moving to Los Angeles in 1956. She has received more than 450 commissions from churches throughout the United States. She has become one of the nation's foremost muralists using Christian themes. Her work graces many local churches, including St. Vibiana Cathedral, the Sisters new Chapel at Loyola Marymount University and St. Cornelius Church in Long Beach.