Pentecost Art Series: Duccio

 

 

This is Pentecost by Duccio.  It is a panel from his magnificent 14th century many-paneled Maesta altarpiece.  The artistic medium is egg tempera on poplar wood with extensive use of gold gilding.  The dimensions are about 14.8 by 16.7 inches. 

At the above link for the Maesta altarpiece, one can read about how this masterwork was dismantled in the 18th century as part of a remodeling project. The altarpiece was split up with some panels lost and others now in various locations around the world.  This one is permanently housed in the Cathedral Museum in Siena, Italy and is on display there.

I find it interesting that Duccio depicted a tongue of fire coming down on Our Lady's head, just as they come down on the heads of each of the Apostles.  The explanation for this is that scripture expressly states that Mary was present at the Pentecost events and also states that the fire came down on all who were present so Our Lady must have been included:  Acts 1:14 and 2:1-4.

Pentecost Art Series: Giotto

 

As described in Acts 2:

1 And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place:  2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3 And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:  4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak

This is Giotto's 14th century portrayal of Pentecost in his series on the Life of Christ in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy.  It is a life-sized fresco (78.7 by 72.8" - in other words more or less 6 feet by 6 feet).  

I think it is interesting to try to identify each of the apostles oneself based on what one knows about each from scripture.

Church Flowers for Pentecost

Next Sunday is Pentecost. The liturgical color is red.

It is important to bear in mind that the liturgical color rules apply to the vestments and altar frontal.  There is no requirement that the flowers conform to the liturgical color.  Rather, the flower arranger must think of how the flowers will look with the vestments and frontal.  Sometimes a contrasting bloom might be more effective.

Moreover, since not all reds are the same, the best thing is to talk to the sacristan and learn exactly which vestment and frontal will be used, then plan the flowers accordingly -- whether you want to use red or a contrasting color.

My favorite church flower expert, Katharine Morrison McClinton, advises that Pentecost "calls for flame-colored flowers."  She adds, "In the Middle Ages a dove was let down from the roof of the church and balls of fire and roses were dropped [.]"

Morrison goes on to say, "The altar frontal is red and the flowers must harmonize with this.  Since it is difficult to exactly match reds and since red is often lost in the darkness of the sanctuary, it often helps to mix the red with pink or magenta to cut up the color and make it carry better."

Another church flower book has this list of flowers suitable for church arrangement that are available in red:

Amaryllis

Anemone

Camellia

Canna

Carnation

Chrysanthemum

Dahlia

Day Lily

Garden pink

Geranium

Peony

Petunia

Poinsettia

Ranunculus

Rhodendron

Rose

Snapdragon

Sweet William

Tulip

Zinnia

If you want to follow Morrison's idea of mixing pink with red, see the post Pink Flowers for Church Decoration for a list.

Image:  Flaming Parrot tulip.  Photograph by Pierre-Selim Huard.  From Wikimedia Commons.  Some rights reserved.  (Click for license.)

Text:
McClinton, Katharine Morrison; Flower Arrangement in the Church, Morehouse-Gorham Co. (New York, 1958) pp. 96-97.

Patteson-Knight, Francis and St. Claire, Margaret McReynolds; Arranging Flowers for the Sanctuary, Harper & Brothers (New York, 1961), p. 39.)