The Pentecost
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 17 13/16 × 11 1/4 in. (45.3 × 28.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.3243
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Pentecost*, a stunning1574 engraving from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Prints collection, measuring 17 13/16 × 11 1/4 inches. This collaborative masterpiece brings to life the biblical moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. It unites the talents of Italian Renaissance polymath Giorgio Vasari—known for his vivid Mannerist style and authorship of *Lives of the Artists*—with skilled Dutch engraver Cornelis Cort, and Italian printmakers Giovanni Battista Mazza and Luca Bertelli, showcasing the era's international artistic networks. Engravings like this were revolutionary in the 16th century, enabling the mass reproduction and widespread dissemination of complex religious imagery during the Counter-Reformation. Vasari's dynamic composition, with its dramatic figures and spiritual energy, is meticulously captured through Cort's precise burin work—incising fine lines into a copper plate to create rich tonal depth and intricate details. Though the sheet is trimmed, its scale allowed for grand display in homes, churches, or collections. Acquired through The Elisha Whittelsey Collection in 1951, *The Pentecost* exemplifies how prints bridged elite painting with popular devotion, making sacred art accessible to a broader audience and preserving Vasari's vision across Europe. A testament to Renaissance ingenuity!
About the Artist
Cornelis Cort|Giorgio Vasari|Giovanni Battista Mazza|Luca Bertelli · 1533–1578
Comment on works: copper engraver; engraver; etcher