Wensbrief met de neerdaling van de Heilige Geest 1775

This "Wensbrief met de neerdaling van de Heilige Geest", or "Letter of good wishes with the descent of the Holy Spirit", was made by Monogrammist IFL with pen and watercolor. The image presents an interesting case of the public role of art in the Netherlands. Letters of good wishes were luxury objects used as a form of written communication to celebrate important life events. This example includes calligraphy surrounded by symbolic imagery. At the top of the image, we can see the Holy Spirit represented as a dove, and at the bottom the Apostles during Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on them. Floral motifs and cherubs frame the text. It is likely that the letter was commissioned by a wealthy family. The letter’s purpose was to reinforce social bonds and express shared values, while the imagery reinforces the importance of religion in Dutch society. To fully understand the artwork and its cultural meaning, we can research the social history of letter writing in the Netherlands.