The Descent of the Holy Spirit 1547

Francesco Orlandini made this 35-1/2 x 43-1/2 inches wood panel, "The Descent of the Holy Spirit," sometime in the 16th century. The subject refers to a foundational narrative from the Book of Acts, but Orlandini sets the scene not in ancient Jerusalem but a Renaissance Italian piazza. Note how the classical architecture of the temple aligns with the aesthetic values of the Italian elite, for whom religious subjects were often a pretext for displays of wealth and status. The figures are also dressed in contemporary clothing. This panel is a reminder that religious art is as much a reflection of the society that produces it as it is a portrayal of sacred events. Close study of the panel with its architectural details and costumes could tell us a great deal about the social and political context in which it was made, if we are attentive to the ways that institutions and societal forces shaped artistic production.