Pentecost 1310

Giotto painted "Pentecost" using tempera on wood, presenting a scene dominated by a striking architectural structure. The symmetry of the upper register, with its arches and stylized details, creates a rigid order that contrasts with the dynamism of the figures below. The use of gold leaf not only signifies the divine but also flattens the pictorial space, challenging traditional perspective. The apostles, framed by halos, are arranged in a frieze-like manner, their gazes directed upwards, yet confined within the composition's structure. The lower figures lean in, creating a sense of engagement. Giotto uses the architectural form to highlight the theological content. The architecture becomes a semiotic device, framing and presenting the apostles while also setting up a dynamic tension between the earthly and the divine. This interplay between form and content demonstrates how Giotto's artistic decisions reinforce the subject's spiritual and intellectual dimensions.