Depiction of Mary at Pentecost
Title of Art: The Descent of the Holy Ghost
Artist: Titian
Date of Composition: 1555
Subjects: Mary, Mother of God
Art Form: Painting
Exhibit Institution: Basilica Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica Saint Mary of Health)
Exhibit Location: Venice, Italy
VM Image #: 0102
Photographer: Shala Graham
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This image depicts Pentecost as described in Acts 2:1-4: "When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak" (CEB). Mary the mother of Jesus is seated in the center of a group of disciples and the Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove, casting down its strongest and brightest rays on her. Flames are seen above all of the disciples' heads, more accurately depicting the reality the author describes, which tells readers that Pentecost included male, female, Jew, Gentile, slave, and free - rather than only the 12 apostles.
Titian’s depiction of the descent of the Holy Spirit gives central position to women. Mary, Mother of God is the center figure of the composition, with male and female disciples of Jesus surrounding her. Behind Mary are two additional women. One looks down onto Mary, while the other looks up reverently toward the dove. All male and female disciples have individual flames above their heads showing how Acts 2:1-4 tells that both men and women alike received the Holy Spirit at Pentacost.