Duccio di Buoninsegna
Master of Sienese
Art.
Duccio di Buoninsegna was born in Siena,
Tuscany in about 1256. He was one of the most influential artists of
his time along with that other great master from Tuscany, Cimabue. He
spent almost his entire working life in Siena. Despite not having a
great deal of information about his personal life, we do know that he
fathered at least seven children and that he died in 1318 or 1319.
Works definitely attributed to him
number no more than nine or ten, but Duccio did bridge the artistic gap
between the Byzantine age and the start of the Renaissance.
His painting of a Madonna from 1300 was purchased by the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and has caused
considerable controversy given it's price tag of 45 million dollars.
Known as the Stoclet Madonna the authenticity of
the painting is the subject of some dispute and some experts believe
the work to be a ninetieth century forgery.
The Madonna is the most expensive purchase ever by
the museum and it's clear to see why the argument continues.
Madonna
and Child c. 1300 Tempera 27.9 × 21 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York (w)
Duccio's most famous masterpiece is the Maestą
depicting the Virgin and Child surrounded by angels and saints. The
work consisted of many panels but several of these have been dispersed
or lost. Commissioned by the city of Sienna and installed in the
cathedral of Siena on June 9, 1311, the work is now in the museum of
Siena.
An eyewitness to the event wrote:
And on that day when it was
brought into the cathedral, all workshops remained closed, and the
bishop commanded a great host of devoted priests and monks to file past
in solemn procession. This was accompanied by all the high officers of
the Commune and by all the people; all honourable citizens of Siena
surrounded said panel with candles held in their hands, and women and
children followed humbly behind. They accompanied the panel amidst the
glorious pealing of bells after a solemn procession on the Piazza del
Campo into the very cathedral; and all this out of reverence for the
costly panel… The poor received many alms, and we prayed to the Holy
Mother of God, our patron saint, that she might in her infinite mercy
preserve this our city of Siena from every misfortune, traitor or enemy.
Maestą
1308-1311 Tempera and
gold on wood 213 × 396 cm
Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo,
Siena. (w)
Maesta
Altarpiece: Annunciation about 1308-1311Gold and tempera on panel, 43 x
44 cmLondon, National Gallery (w)
The painting was restored in 1956.
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