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Pentecost
From the Rabbula Gospels
Syrian, c.585
Florence, Laurentian Library
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There is a reasonable amount of consistency in the iconography of the scene, probably since the description of the event indicates a fairly circumscribed setting:
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
Acts 2:1-4
Although there is a consistency, there are some differences in iconography. One of them is the inclusion of Mary among the disciples. The previous chapter of Acts says that among the disciples who gathered in the upper room following the ascension of Jesus were “Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:14). Therefore, it is reasonable that she would still have been there on the day of Pentecost. Most depictions include her, indeed most center on her.
However, there are some that do not, especially from the earliest images, right through into the high Middle Ages.
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| Pentecost From the Sacramentary of Drogo French (Metz), c. 850 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Latin 9428, fol. 78 |
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| Pentecost From the Gospel Book of Poussay German (Reichenau), c. 980 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Latin 10514, fol. 69v |
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| Pentecost From a Sacramentary German (Reichenau), c. 1020-1040 Paris, Bibliotheque national de France MS Latin 18005, fol. 94v |
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| Pentecost From a Benedictional German (Regensburg), c. 1030-1040 Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum MS Ludwig VII 1, fol. 47v |
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| Pentecost From a Lectionary Austria (Sankt Peter, Salzburg), c. 1045-1055 New York, Pierpont Morgan Library MS G 44, fol.103r |
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| Pentecost From a Gospel Book Byzantine (Constantinople), c. 1100-1199 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Supplément grec 27, fol. 38r |
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Pentecost From a Gospel Book German (Prüm), c. 1100-1150 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Latin 17325, fol. 43r |
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| Pentecost , Mosaic, West Dome Byzantine, c. 1100-1150 Venice, Cathedral of San Marco |
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| Pentecost Plaque with champleve enamel on copper gilt French (Meuse Region), c.1150-1175 New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cloisters Collection |
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| Nicholas of Verdun, Pentecost From the Klosterneuburg Altar French (Meuse Region), c. 1180-1181 Klosterneuburg (Austria), Abbey Church |
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| Pentecost, from the Stavelot Altarpiece French (Meuse Region), c. 1160-1161 Paris, Musée de Cluny, Musée national du Moyen Age |
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| Pentecost From a Psalter French (Paris), c. 1200-1225 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Nouvelle acquisition latine 1392, fol. 13r |
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| Giotto, Pentecost Italian, c. 1304-1306 Padua, Arena/Scrovegni Chapel |
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| Bartolommeo di Tommaso da Foligno, Pentecost Italian, c.1440 Minneapolis, Minneapolis Institute of Arts |
In the later years of the twelfth century, around the same time that the world began to see numerous churches dedicated to "Notre Dame" Mary's presence among the disciples on Pentecost began to receive visual attention. Indeed, once introduced, she became the dominant figure in the composition.
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| Pentecost From the Ingeborg Psalter French (Ile de France), c. 1195 Chantilly, Musée Condé MS 1695, fol. 32v |
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| Pentecost From the Livre d'images de madame marie Belgian (Hainaut), c.1285-1290 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Nouvelle acquisition française 16251, fol. 50r |
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| Duccio, Pentecost (panel from the Maestà altarpiece) Italian, c. 1308-1311 Siena, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo |
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Andrea da Firenze, Pentecost
Italian, c. 1366-1367
Florence, Church of Santa Maria Novella, Cappellone degli Spangnoli
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| Giovanni di Benedetto and Workshop, Pentecost From a Missal Italian, c. 1385-1390 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Latin 757, fol. 334v |
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| Master of Jean de Papeleu, Pentecost From a Bible historiale by Guiard des Moulins French (Paris), c. 1400-1425 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Français 157, fol. 240r |
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| Girolamo da Cremona, Pentecost Cutting from a Liturgical Book Italian, c. 1460-1470 Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum MS 55, 94r |
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| Pentecost German, 1472 Konstanz, Minster of Our Lady |
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| Pentecost From the High Altar of the Charterhouse of Saint-Honoré French (Picardy, Thuison-les-Abbeville), c. 1490-1491 Chicago, Art Institute |
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| Jean Bourdichon, Pentecost From the Grandes Heures of Anne d Bretagne French (Tours), c. 1503-1508 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Latin 9474, fol. 49v |
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| Michael Wolgemut, Pentecost From the High Altarpiece German, c. 1506-1508 Schwabach, Evangelical Parish Church of Saint John and Saint Martin |
Albrecht Durer, Pentecost
Woodcut, from the Small Passion
German, 1510
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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| Master of James IV of Scotland, Pentecost From the Spinola Hours Flemish (Ghent), c. 1510-1520 Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum MS Ludwig IX 18, fol. 31v This lovely illustration shows us not only the event of Pentecost, but also its aftermath. Surrounding the image of the Pentecost event we are shown the activities which it inspired the Apostles to perform. They are shown setting forth on their missionary journeys, preaching and baptizing. |
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| Bernabei Tomaso Papacello, Pentecost Italian, c. 1528-1529 Cortona, Cathedral of Santa Maria |
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| Pentecost From the Hours of Antoine le Bon French (Lorraine), 1533 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Nouvelle acquisition latine 302, fol. 45r |
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| Giovanni Battista Ricci, Pentecost Italian, c.1600 Rome, Church of San Marcello al Corso |
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| Giovanni Battista Brenni, Pentecost Swiss, c. 1696-1697 Ebrach (Kreis Bamberg, Germany), Parish Church of Saints Mary, John the Evangelist and Nicholas |
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| Jacopo Amigoni, Pentecost Italian, 1725 Ottobeuren (Germany), Benedictine monastery church |
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| Marc Gabriel Charles Gleyre, Pentecost French, 1850 Paris, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris |
Around the latter part of the fifteenth century the faces of other women join that of the Virgin Mary in the group of disciples.
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| Jean Colombe, Pentecost From the Tres Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry French (Bourges), c. 1485-1489 Chantilly, Musée Condé MS 65, fol. 79r |
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| Titian and Workshop, Pentecost Italian, c.1545 Venice, Church of Santa Maria della Sallute |
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| Guido Reni, Pentecost from series of Mysteries of the Faith Italian, 1608 Vatican City, Apostolic Palace |
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| Fray Juan Bautista Maino, Pentecost Italian, c. 1615-1620 Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado |
Salomon de Bray, Pentecost
Dutch, Early-mid 17th Century
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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| Hans Georg Asam, Pentecost German, 1683 Benedicktbeuern, Abbey Church of St. Benedict |
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Caspar Damian Asam, Pentecost German, after 1720 Aldersbach, Abbey Church |
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Ernst Deger, Pentecost German, 1849-1859 Stolzenfels, Schloss Stolzenfels |
Individual Tongues or Lines of Fire?
Another variation is in how the event is pictured, how the “tongues as of fire” are shown. There are two predominant images. One of them shows separate “tongues of fire” appearing over the heads of each of the persons gathered.
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| Giotto, Pentecost Italian, c.1320 London, National Gallery |
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| Andrea di Cione, Pentecost Triptych Italian, c. 1362-1365 Florence, Galleria del Accademia |
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| Venturino Mercati, Pentecost From the Short Hours of the Holy Spirit Italian (Milan), c. 1470-1480 New York, Pierpont Morgan Library MS G 14, fol.100v |
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| Hans Multscher, Pentecost German, 1437 Berlin, Gemäldegalerie der Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
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| Jacques de Besançon, Pentecost From the Legenda aurea by Jacobus de Voragine French (Paris), c. 1480-1490 Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France MS Francais 244, fol. 158r |
Martial Vaillant, Pentecost
From the Hours of Francois II
French (Paris), c. 1555-1557
Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France
MS Nouvelle acquisition latine 104, fol. 72r
El Greco, Pentecost
Greco-Spanish, 1600
Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado
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| Fray Juan Bautista Maino, Pentecost Spanish, c. 1615-1620 Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado |
Charles Le Brun, Pentecost
French c. 1656-1657
Paris, Musée du Louvre
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| Jean Restout, Pentecost French, 1732 Paris, Musée du Louvre |
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| Joseph Ignaz Mildorfer, Pentecost Austrian, c. 1750s Budapest, Magyar Nemzeti Galeria |
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| Vincenzo Meucci, Pentecost Italian, 1753 Pistoia, Church of San Leone |
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| Constantin Prevost, Pentecost French, 1842 Lavaur, Musée du pays vaurais |
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| Gustave Dore, Pentecost from La Sainte Bible French, 1866 |
The other image can best be described as bursts of energy, usually shown as lines, coming from one central point, often the dove of the Holy Spirit. The lines reach to the head of each person, and occasionally end in a tongue of fire.
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| Pentecost From an Illustrated Vita Christi with Devotional Supplements English (York), c. 1190-1200 Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum MS 101, fol. 91r |
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| Pentecost Window Italian, c. 1255 Assisi, Basilica di San Francesco, Upper Church |
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| Jean Fouquet, Pentecost from Hours of Etienne Chevalier French (Tours), 1420 Chantilly, Musée Condé MS 71, fol.21 |
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| Pentecost From a Book of Hours French (Rouen), c. 1475-1499 New York, Pierpont Morgan Library MS G 4, fol. 98r |
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Jean Poyer, Pentecost
from Hours of Henry VIII
France (Tours), 1500
New York, Pierpont Morgan Library
MS H 8, fol.101v |
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| Jan Joest of Kalkar, Pentecost Dutch, 1508 Kleve, Parish Church St. Nicholas |
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| Juan de Flandes, Pentecost Flemish, c. 1514-1519 Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado |
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| Pentecost From an Altarpiece German, 1515 Bad Segeberg, Evangelical Church of Saint Mary (Former Augustinian Cloister Church) |
Some images from the late Renaissance period on eschew either tongues of fire or distinctive rays of light for a more generalized vision of a bright glow, usually emanating from the symbolic Dove of the Holy Spirit.
Master of 1518, Pentecost
Flemish, c.1520
Dublin, National Gallery of Ireland
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| Workshop of Bernard van Orley, Pentecost Flemish, 1520-1525 Chicago, Art Institute |
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| Frencesco Salviati, Pentecost Italian, c. 1549-1550 Rome, Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima, Chapel of Margrave Johann Albrecht of Brandenburg |
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| Jean Jouvenet, Pentecost French, 1709 Versailles, Royal Chapel |
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| Johann Jakob Zeiller, Pentecost German, c. 1757-1764 Ottobeuren, Monastery Church of Saints Theodore and Alexander |
Representations of the Pentecost event have not ceased to be produced. A relatively recent work takes us back to some of the earliest images.
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| Peter Minchell, Pentecost American, c.1972-1976 Philadelphia, Museum of Art |
©
M. Duffy, 2008, revised 2016, majority of pictures renewed 2022, further updated and revised 2023.
Scripture
texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
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