The artwork titled “The Descent of the Holy Spirit” is a woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511 as part of his “The Small Passion” series. This religious painting is an example of the Northern Renaissance art movement and is currently housed in the British Museum in London, UK.
In the woodcut, a group of figures is gathered together, possibly representing the apostles and other followers of Jesus during Pentecost. Above them, a radiant dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, descends from a burst of light beams, which emanate from the center of the composition. The characters are depicted with attention to detail, each expressing a sense of awe or contemplation, and their draped clothing suggests movement and provides a sense of texture. The overall feeling conveyed by the artwork is one of divine revelation and the miraculous moment when the Holy Spirit is imparted to the disciples.
