The Descent of the Holy Spirit
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The Descent of the Holy Spirit is a 1650 by Crestano Menarola, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a group of people gathered in a dim room, their faces turned upward as if watching something above them. A beam of light shines down from the ceiling, and a dove floats in the center. The figures are dressed in loose robes, some kneeling, others standing, all looking surprised or awed. One person in the middle holds their hands together, while others gesture or lean in. Notice how the light cuts through the darkness, making the faces and the dove stand out sharply. The artist used deep shadows and strong contrasts to create this effect. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works in other art.
The print *The Descent of the Holy Spirit* by Menarola, Crestano, dated 1650, reproduces a composition originally created by Jacopo Bassano il Vecchio. It is executed as a print on paper, rendering the biblical scene in graphic form.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Crestano Menarola (1605–1687) was an Italian print-maker and painter of the Baroque period.
See the richer artist page
