Mati Klarwein

 Klarwein had painted the piece in 1963. He titled it The Annunciation, deriving its symbolism from the biblical story in which the archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be giving birth to Jesus. The nude black Virgin Mary was a girlfriend of Klarwein’s from Guadeloupe. Klarwein painted himself, wearing a straw hat, in the role of Joseph. A trio of Nigerian nomads are the Magi. Finally, a winged, crimson Gabriel is shown descending from heaven astride a conga drum. “Drums were always used to announce something,” says Klarwein. “They were a medium of communication in Africa, and I put the angel announcing the birth by beating the drum.” As Santana notes, “It fit like a hand and glove to the music.”