← Marcantonio Raimondi Marcantonio Raimondi — The Pentecost; the Holy Dove appears above, below sits the Virgin surrounded by Apostles, from "The Passion of Christ"

The Pentecost; the Holy Dove appears above, below sits the Virgin surrounded by Apostles, from "The Passion of Christ"

Original title: The Pentecost; the Holy Dove appears above, below sits the Virgin surrounded by Apostles, from "The Passion of Christ"

Artist: Marcantonio Raimondi
Date: ca. 1500–34
Medium: Engraving; third state of three
Dimensions: Sheet: 5 3/16 × 3 15/16 in. (13.1 × 10 cm)
Credit line: Gift of Henry Walters, 1917

kurzbeschreibung

Created between about 1500 and 1534, this engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi captures the events of Pentecost: above the seated Virgin and the apostles, the Holy Spirit appears as a dove. The print belongs to the series 'The Passion of Christ' and is the third of three states. It measures 13.1 × 10 cm.

Description

Mary sits enthroned at the center of a symmetrical arrangement, encircled by the twelve apostles in varied poses and dressed in contemporary garments with rich drapery. High above the group hovers the dove as the dominant motif, while additional figures at the sides and rear fill out the scene. Diffuse light from above falls on the dove, making it stand out. The image remains monochrome and offers carefully worked details; the bodily attitudes of those present are powerfully emphasized.

Context

Raimondi ranked among the leading engravers of the Italian Renaissance and became known above all for his reproductive prints after designs by artists such as Raphael. The series 'The Passion of Christ' was made in the first half of the 16th century and helped spread religious imagery widely. The fact that this is the third state points to later changes to the plate, suggesting a subsequent edition or revision.

Impact

The balanced, calm arrangement and the dove as the central element give the print a solemn, devotional air. The meticulously drawn garments and the varied postures of the apostles make the Pentecost event feel vivid yet dignified.

Technique

For this engraving, lines were cut into a metal plate and then printed on paper. The third state shows that the plate was reworked after the first printing—a practice typical of Raimondi's method when he sought finer details or altered contrasts.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)