The Holy Spirit has been represented in Christian art both in the Eastern and Western Churches using a variety of depictions.[1][2][3]
The depictions have ranged from nearly identical figures that represent the three persons of the Holy Trinity from a dove to a flame.[4]
The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, based on the account of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus at his baptism.[5] In many paintings of the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, coming down towards Mary on beams of light, as the Archangel Gabriel announces Christ's coming to Mary.
A dove may also be seen at the ear of Saint Gregory the Great─as recorded by his secretary or other church father authors, dictating their works to them.
The dove also parallels the one that brought the olive branch to Noah after the deluge, as a symbol of peace.[5]
The book of Acts describes the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles at Pentecost in the form of a wind and tongues of fire resting over the apostles' heads. Based on the imagery in that account, the Holy Spirit is sometimes symbolized by a flame.[4]
There are also depictions of the Holy Spirit in the book of Genesis. In The Vatican Museum in Rome is a carved stone sarcophagus depicting the Holy Trinity as three bearded men during the creation of Eve.[6] The majority of early Christian art depicts The Holy Spirit in an anthropomorphic form as a human with two other Identical human figures representing God the Father and Jesus Christ. They either sit or they stand grouped closely together. This is used to portray the unity of The Godhead.[7][8]
The Holy Spirit is represented in various artistic mediums such as stained glass windows and calligraphy.[9]
^Renaissance art: a topical dictionary by Irene Earls 1987 ISBN 0-313-24658-0 page 70
^Gardner's art through the ages: the western perspective by Fred S. Kleiner ISBN 0-495-57355-8 page 349
^Vladimir Lossky, 1999 The Meaning of Icons ISBN 0-913836-99-0 page 17
^ abThe Holy Spirit: Classic and Contemporary Readings by Eugene F. Rogers Jr. (May 19, 2009) Wiley ISBN 1405136235 pages 121-123
^ abWe Believe in the Holy Spirit (Ancient Christian Doctrine, No. 4) by Joel C. Elowsky (Jul 13, 2009) InterVarsity ISBN 0830825347 page 14
^Early christian art and architecture by Milburn, R., & Milburn, R. L. P. (1988) Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN 0520063260 page 68
^Three Drawing in an Anglo-Saxon Pontifical: Anthropomorphic Trinity of Threefold Christ? by Rosenthal, J. E. (1981) Art Bulletin, 63(4), ISSN 0004-3079 page 546
^The Trinity. Touchstone: A Journal Of Mere Christianity by Rublev, A. (2013) Academic Search Complete ISSN 0897-327X page 54-55
^Christian Century by Huey-Heck, L. (2012)Academic Search Complete ISSN 0009-5281 page 47
and 28 Related for: Holy Spirit in Christian art information
The HolySpirit has been represented inChristianart both in the Eastern and Western Churches using a variety of depictions. The depictions have ranged...
For the majority of Christian denominations, the HolySpirit, or Holy Ghost, is believed to be the third Person of the Trinity, a triune God manifested...
The Trinity is most commonly seen inChristianart with the HolySpirit represented by a dove, as specified in the gospel accounts of the baptism of Christ;...
InChristian theology, the gender of the HolySpirit has been the subject of some debate in recent times. The grammatical gender of the word for "spirit"...
Buddhas and bodhisattvas inart, God the Father in Western art, HolySpiritinChristianart, the depiction of Jesus, The Trinity inart, and Manus Dei are...
demonology Christian flag Coat of arms of the Holy See Cross and Crown Flag of Vatican City HolySpiritinChristianart Icon Jesus, King of the Jews Lamb of God...
Nicene Christian conception of the HolySpirit as one person of the Trinity. The Christian concept tends to emphasize the moral aspect of the HolySpirit more...
the HolySpirit. It is not in the original text of the Creed, attributed to the First Council of Constantinople (381), which says that the HolySpirit proceeds...
the work of the HolySpirit and spiritual gifts as an everyday part of a believer's life. It has a global presence in the Christian community. Practitioners...
Some Christians see this verse as meaning the Messiah will represent the Trinity on earth. This is because Counselor is a title for the HolySpirit (John...
Christian biblical term occurring five times in the Johannine texts of the New Testament. InChristian theology, the word commonly refers to the Holy...
Father, God the Son, and God the HolySpirit. Christian teachings on the transcendence, immanence, and involvement of God in the world and his love for humanity...
InChristianart, animal forms have at times occupied a place of importance. With the Renaissance, animals were nearly banished, except as an accessory...
HolySpirit distinctly, and although far more familiar from Western models, is actually of Greek origin. Christ may be shown either as an adult, (in this...
perfection. The "Seven Fold Spirit of God" could be the "perfect" Spirit of God, the HolySpirit. Christian eschatology HolySpirit (Christianity) Seven Archangels...
of the HolySpirit, alternatively known as the St. Esprit Cathedral (Turkish: Saint Esprit Kilisesi), located on Cumhuriyet Avenue 127/A, in the quarter...
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's...
God the HolySpirit. Since the second century, Christian creeds included affirmation of belief in "God the Father (Almighty)", primarily in his capacity...
Renaissance Art. Boulder: Westview Press. pp. 344–346. Media related to Raphael's Disputation of the Holy Sacrament at Wikimedia Commons The Vatican: Spirit and...
the inspiration of Ruach HaKodesh (the HolySpirit) but with one level less authority than that of prophecy. In Masoretic manuscripts (and some printed...
the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the HolySpirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated in all the Western liturgical churches: Latin Catholic,...
occurred in the believer as the HolySpirit is to "fit us for God." In antiquity, baptism was commonly referred to as the perfecting of the Christian. This...
Early Christianart and architecture (or Paleochristian art) is the art produced by Christians, or under Christian patronage, from the earliest period...
belief, the fire emerges miraculously and is lit by the HolySpirit. The ceremony of the Holy Fire is led by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem...
known symbol for the HolySpiritinChristianart. Depictions of the baptismal scene typically show the sky opening and the HolySpirit descending as a dove...
Godhead. In the words of the Athanasian Creed, an early statement of Christian belief, "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the HolySpirit is God,...