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Pentecost

Gian Jacopo Caraglio

1535

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Pentecost is a 1535 ink by Gian Jacopo Caraglio, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gian Jacopo Caraglio
When & what style?: 1535 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a group of people gathered in a dim room, all looking upward. A bright dove hovers above them, with light rays shooting down like sunbeams. The people are dressed in simple robes, some kneeling, others sitting, and all seem focused on the dove. The artist used dark lines to create shadows and texture, making the scene feel dramatic. The dove is a symbol often linked to the Holy Spirit in Christian art. This scene likely represents the moment when the Spirit descended on Jesus’ followers, as told in the Bible. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Caraglio carved these detailed lines into metal.