Pentecost, from The Small Passion

Description

Pentecost by Albrecht Dürer gathers the apostles and the Virgin beneath a radiant heavenly sign. The dove appears at the top of the composition, its surrounding light spreading toward the closely assembled figures below. Raised faces, folded hands and varied expressions turn the group into a field of attentive responses rather than a uniform gathering.

Created around 1510 for The Small Passion, the woodcut gives the descending radiance a strong visual direction. The dense company beneath it contrasts with the open burst of light above, linking collective experience to a single source. Dürer’s carefully differentiated figures give the scene its human interest, making the sacred event feel shared by many individuals whose gestures remain distinct and convincing.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Dürer collection.