The last scene of the Cycle of the Life and Passion of Christ on folio CCCXXV v

represents the Pentecost, the Mission to the Apostles, or Second Coming of Christ or the

Last Judgment (Fig. 86). According to Yarza Luaces, there are only three versions of

Pentecost in the miniatures of Castile and Leon of the 11Ith and 12th centuries. The Bible of

Avila is one of them, and the others are in the Missale Vetus Oxomense and in the

Homilies of Saint Isidore of Leon.217 A traditional example of the Pentecost comes from

the cloister of the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos (Burgos) dated to the last third

of the 11Ith century (Fig. 87).218 In terms of iconography there are very few similarities.

The twelve Apostles are located on the bottom of the composition, with six of them in

front, and the other remaining six are placed behind them. On the top appears the head of

the Virgin Mary staring at the hand of God that comes out from a cloud, flanked by two

angels. The only similarity is that the twelve Apostles are looking towards heaven. The

cross-position of the feet of the Apostles seem to indicate that they are seated, and not

standing.21 In terms of style both works are similar in their linear quality on the

treatment of the drapery. From this iconographic and stylistic analysis of a traditional


217 Yarza Luaces, J., Iconogralia de la 2iniatura Ca;stellana-Leonesa,1~~11~~11~1973, pp. 32-33,
also mentions the fact that these three examples of the Pentecost are similar in the fact
that they place little or no importance to the image of the Virgin Mary.

218 Palacios, M., Yarza Luaces, J., y Torres, R., El~ona~sterio de Santo Domingo de
Silos, 1989,p. 17.

219 Palacios, M., Yarza Luaces, J., y Torres, R., El~ona~sterio de Santo Domingo de
Silos, 1989, pp. 22-23, mention that the position of the feet of the figures is related to
dancing. Nevertheless, through observation and a careful reading of the literature of the
Pentecost (Acts 2:1-5) where it is stated, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven
as of a rushing mighty with, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." It would
seem logical to conclude that the position of the feet of the Apostles is that of sitting, but
because of the limited space of a vertical slab, the artist has minimized the position that is
now being indicated in the position of the feet.