Pentecost

Jacopo di Cione depicted the Pentecost around 1362 for the Galleria dell'Accademia, showing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered apostles as described in the Acts of the Apostles. Pentecost was a subject of particular liturgical importance, marking the birth of the Christian Church, and was frequently depicted in large-scale altarpieces for major Florentine churches. Jacopo carried on the monumental tradition of his brother Orcagna while developing a somewhat more accessible and narrative style.

Executed in tempera and gold on panel, the composition arranges the twelve apostles and the Virgin in a symmetrical group beneath the descending dove of the Holy Spirit and tongues of flame. The painting displays the Cione workshop's hallmark combination of firmly modeled figures, strong contours, and lavishly tooled gold backgrounds.