The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the acquisition of a drawing by Netherlandish master Lucas van Leyden (1494–1533). It is one of only 28 authenticated drawings by the artist, and the only one in the United States.

The piece, which dates from the 1520s, depicts an annunciation scene and is rendered in pen, brown ink, and chalk. It is the pendant to another drawing, both of which were likely conceived as sketches for stained-glass windows.

According to outgoing Met director Philippe de Montebello, the acquisition “crowns our efforts over the past 15 years to make the Met the most comprehensive repository of Netherlandish drawings in America.” It will be included in a fall 2008 exhibition in honor of de Montebello’s tenure at the museum.