Title
Pentecost: The Holy Spirit descends upon the Virgin and the Eleven Apostles
Year/Period
1600–1605
Region
Mughal period, India
Object Type
paintings (visual works)
Material
gouache (paint), gold (metal), paper (fiber product)
Technique
painting (image-making), papermaking
Dimension
Frame size: ,
Folio Size: H:40.5 x W:28.5 cm,
Image size: ,
Image Size: H:19.8 x W:12.5 cm
Folio Size: H:40.5 x W:28.5 cm,
Image size: ,
Image Size: H:19.8 x W:12.5 cm
Accession No.
2012-00165
Collection of
NLB Type
Painting
This painting depicts the Pentecost, which falls on the seventh Sunday after the Resurrection of Christ. The Holy Spirit appears in the form of a white dove above the Virgin Mary and the Apostles, eleven of them are seen around the dark room expressing in various ways their awe at the luminous presence of the Spirit. The colours of the paintings are applied without following traditional Western iconographic conventions. For example, Mary’s traditional blue robe has been rendered in startling green and red. Jesuit Missions were sent from Goa to the Mughal court and this courtly miniature reflects early contact and exchanges between Portugal and Mughal India.
