Paintings of Pentecost

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to visit the Museu de Belles Arts de València (Museum of Fine Arts in Valéncia). The first floor of this museum has tons of Catholic paintings. There were a lot that were interesting, but two really caught my eye. Both were paintings that represented Pentecost. The first was by Joan de Joanes (Valencia, c 1505 - Bocairent, 1579), a Spanish renaissance painter. It came from the Church of the Society of Jesus of Valencia in 1634. This painting was huge! It had to be a least 20 feet tall by 15 feet wide. The second has the same name, “Pentecost,” but is by Marcellus Coffermans (a Flemish renaissance painter). It was painted sometime between 1549-1578. If I understood correctly, it made its way to the museum by a donation in 2004. Both paintings are very similar. Both depicting Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. These paintings remind me that as we seek Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to us as our advocate. While Pentecost is still 5 months away, these two paintings take me back to the birth of our Savior, and all that He has done for us.

Let us know your thoughts about these paintings in the comments below.

Joan de Joanes (Valencia, c. 1505 - Bocairent, 1579), Pentecost, Oil on serge.

Marcellus Coffermans (1549 - 1578), Pentecost, Oil on panel