videos + essays
Donatello, Feast of Herod
City-states vied for the best artists. After Ghiberti dragged his feet, Siena invited Donatello to finish the job.
Duccio, Maestà
Many, many panels made up this massive altarpiece. Dedicated to Mary, it stood in the crossing of Siena Cathedral.
Simone Martini, Maestà
The Queen of Heaven presides over the space where government officials in Siena met to make decisions
Pietro Lorenzetti, Birth of the Virgin
Take a peek into a 14th-century household! This painting transplants a biblical story into a busy Sienese bedroom.
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory and Effects of Good and Bad Government
Things get ugly when tyrants take over! But with peace, fortitude, and prudence, Siena prospers—an urban paradise.
