Duccio di Buoninsegna
Italian·1255–1319
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Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1255-c. 1319) was a Sienese painter who founded the Sienese school of painting and created one of the most important works in Italian art: the Maestà (1308-11), a massive double-sided altarpiece for Siena Cathedral. While primarily a painter, his influence on Sienese artistic tradition extended to all visual arts.
Duccio combined Byzantine gold-ground tradition with a new warmth, emotional depth, and spatial awareness that pointed toward the Renaissance. The Maestà's front shows the Virgin enthroned among saints, while the back contains 26 narrative scenes from Christ's Passion painted with remarkable subtlety. When the altarpiece was completed, it was carried through Siena's streets in a public procession.
Notable Works by Duccio di Buoninsegna
1 painting catalogued with museum locations
Museums with Duccio di Buoninsegna's Work
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About Duccio di Buoninsegna
The Maestà (1308-11) is a massive double-sided altarpiece originally in Siena Cathedral. The front shows the Virgin enthroned; the back has 26 Passion scenes. It's now mostly at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Siena.
Duccio founded the Sienese school of painting, emphasizing elegant line, rich color, and emotional tenderness. His approach offered an alternative to Giotto's Florentine realism and influenced Sienese art for over a century.
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