Created in the workshop of Robert Campin around 1430, the Mérode Altarpiece is an outstanding example of Northern Renaissance painting. In three meticulously executed panels, a scene from sacred history unfolds. Witnessed by the work’s patrons who are shown kneeling in reverence, the central panel depicts the moment of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, a scene known as the Annunciation. In this video, we explore the rich symbolic imagery that brings this story from the life of the Virgin Mary into the world of fifteenth-century Europe. We learn how objects, colors, and even style convey meaning and guide viewers of the work in their devotions.