The Descent of the Holy Spirit - French school of the 17th century

Charles Lebrun (Paris, 1619-1690), circle
The Descent of the Holy Spirit

French school of the seventeenth century
oil painting on canvas

Measurements (cm): canvas 142 x 109

The painting has substantial similarities to the work kept at the Louvre Museum (oil on canvas, 317 x 265 cm), performed by Charles Lebrun around the years 1656-1657, presumably for the seminary of Saint-Sulpice and transferred during the period of French Revolution.

Our canvas is the episode narrated in the Acts of the Apostles, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Virgin Mary, the Apostles and other disciples gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem.

The mother of the Saviour is located in the center of the composition. The two women at the Virgin's sides are St. Anne, right, wrapped in a cloak, and Mary Magdalene, to the left, in a stupor transport and joy. The lower part of the composition is occupied by the group of Apostles, affected by the rays coming from the Holy Spirit.

Biographical notes
Charles Le Brun (Paris, 1619 - Paris 1690), French painter and decorator. He was first a student of his father Nicolas, sculptor, then François Perrier and Simon Vouet in Paris; he completed his training in Rome where he went (1642-1646) with Poussin, whose lessons had a great part in the formation of his style and where he studied Raphael, the Bolognese painters and the ancient monuments.
Le Brun is most famous for its furniture and decoration works to the palace of Versailles, during the seventeenth century. He was director of the prestigious Académie royale des Peintures et des sculptures and note Manufacture Royale des Gobelins.

The work of art is presented in excellent condition.