The Fresco of the Annunciation at Wadi al-Natroun Monastery in Egypt

When one thinks of Coptic art, one tends to think of very highly stylized icons. Now of course, most icons in the iconographic tradition are highly stylized, including Byzantine and Russian icons for example, but the Coptic tradition took it to a whole other level, with icons of an almost 'cartoonish' style (which is meant with no disrespect please note, it is simply the best way to summarize the style). These icons are highly stylized and simplified in their form; they have a very two dimensional character to them as their concern is not with realism, nor with giving the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality. When you see them, they are immediately recognizable, but that said, these types of Coptic icons do not fully represent the entire, historical Coptic tradition.

To that point, I would turn your attention to the fresco of the Annunciation found in the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, what is called the Al-Surian or Dayr al-Suryān, located in Wadi al-Natrun, Egypt.  

First, a bit about the monastery itself. It is located near the great See of Alexandria in the north of Egypt, reasonably close to the Mediterranean Sea and was founded around the sixth century. It is oftentimes referred to as the "Syrian monastery" for reason that it was in use by the Syrian Christians for many centuries. 

Wadi-al-Natroun Monastery

Within the monastery is the Church of the Holy Virgin and this is where this particular fresco is found. The fresco is thought by some scholars to be possibly as early as the seventh or eighth century in its origins, though there is some scholarly debate on this point with some placing it later. Whatever the case, it was, until recently, covered over before finally being recovered to the state we now find it in.

Stylistically speaking, it is quite distinctive and certainly not what one usually associates with Coptic Christian art. The fresco showcases images of the Virgin and the Angel Gabriel surrounded by four Old Testament prophets who prophesied the Incarnation: Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Their inclusion in this fresco is no doubt intended to showcase the relationship between these prophesies of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New with the coming of Christ.

The Angel Gabriel greets the Virgin with the words, "Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee."

Detail showing the Virgin and the Angel Gabriel. Note the column of incense between them. 

As mentioned, the four prophets depicted are those who prophesied the Incarnation of Christ and so they each carry scrolls bearing texts from their respective writings.

The text carried by Moses is taken from the book of Exodus 3:2 and reads, "I saw the bush while the fire was blazing in it, without being consumed" which comes with reference to the burning bush as a 'type' of the Virgin Mary who, like the burning bush itself, remained 'in tact' despite being consumed by the divine -- a reference to her virginity.  The text held by Isaiah is that taken from Isaiah 7:14: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel" which, of course, is a reference to the Incarnation of Christ. 

Detail showing the prophets Moses and Isaiah

The prophecy held by Ezekiel is taken from the Book of Ezekiel 44:2 and reads, "Then said the Lord unto me: this gate shall be shut and no man shall enter in by it save the Lord, the God of Israel" and finally we have the text of Daniel 2:34: "I saw a stone cut out from the mountain without being touched by hands."  Here again, these come with reference to the virginity of the Virgin Mary.

Detail showing the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel

Seen behind all of these figures is a depiction of Nazareth, the childhood home of Christ, represented as a walled town/city, and above Moses we find two trees that are shown with orange around them, representing flames. This of course is another reference to the Burning Bush, and a typological reference to the Virgin Mary herself. 

Detail showing the burning tree/bush above Moses

Detail of the Virgin

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