Giotto, Pentecost, 1305

Giotto painted Pentecost, located in Scovegni Chapel, Padua, in 1305. To understand this painting we need to know two things: What is the meaning of Pentecost in the church, and why is this subject important?

Among Christians, Pentecost celebrates the descent of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon the twelve apostles fifty days after Easter. As described in Acts 2:1-4, “when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The gift of the Holy Spirit helped the apostles fulfill their mission to preach the Gospel to all nations. Pentecost represents the “birthday" of the church when the word of God
is spread.

Why was Giotto’s painting important? Giotto tells the story of Pentecost through pictures. Most of the population of Europe was illiterate in 1305. Prior to the invention of the printing press in the 1440s, Bibles were rare and expensive. Monks hand copied Bibles for use in churches, but not for widespread use in the population. Europeans learned about Biblical stories by looking at paintings like Giotto’s Pentecost.

In Pentecost, twelve religious men are seen sitting together in a gothic style structure, probably a church. The gold halos around the heads of each man reflect their importance in the church. Of the faces we see in the painting, these men appear solemn, serious, and educated. No one is laughing or smiling. Numerous gold rays shine from Heaven down onto the twelve. For the illiterate learning about Pentecost, Giotto uses these gold rays to represent the Holy Spirit. The brightness of the apostles in the foreground also underscores their importance. Several men glance toward the heavens as if receiving a special message or spirit from God.

Giotto’s Pentecost celebrates, through painting, the importance of this single day in the life of the church. The apostles are gathered together; something important and divine is happening to these twelve, something that will help shape the early church.