Ten days after the Ascension of Christ, the apostles gathered for Shavout, a Jewish feast celebrated 50 days after Passover. Suddenly, they heard a noise and tongues of flame descended upon them. As each was filled by the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in foreign tongues. This gift allowed them to go into different parts of the world to preach the word of God. El Greco painted the scene in c. 1608-1610 (Madrid, Prado) with the Virgin Mary at the center and the Holy Dove descending upon her and the apostles, the tongues of flame already above their heads. The scene was depicted similarly by Giotto in the Arena Chapel, Padua (1305), Duccio in the Maestà Altarpiece (1308-1311; Siena, Museo dell' Opera del Duomo), Andrea da Firenze on the vault of the Guidalotti Chapel at Santa Maria Novella, Florence (1348-1355), and Juan de Flandes on a panel at the Madrid Prado (1514-1518) that originally formed part of the retable of the Church of St. Lazarus in Palencia, Spain.
Historical dictionary of Renaissance art. Lilian H. Zirpolo. 2008.