That painting is "The Annunciation" by Henry Ossawa Tanner. Not only is it my favorite, but it lives in my favorite city, Philadelphia.
Robert Morneau also wrote a beautiful poem to go with the painting - called Fiat:
she sat, glancing with fear
at a golden shaft of streaming light,
pondering perhaps, “Was this
but a sequel to a dream?”
The light too brief for disbelief,
yet its silence eased not her trembling.
Somehow she murmured a “yes”
and with that the light’s love and life
pierced her heart
and lodged in her womb.
The room remained the same
-rug still need smoothing
-jug and paten awaiting using.
Now all was different
in a maiden’s soft but firm fiat.
Perhaps you, too, have a favorite piece of art to use as prayer during this Advent season.
Let us walk in the holy presence.
