Friday, 8 August 2025

Duccio - part 2

Duccio was one of the most important painters of 14th-century Italy. He ran a large workshop which shaped generations of Sienese artists. His pupils were influential on Florentine art.

Duccio's date of birth is not known but he was active in Siena by 1278, and spent most of his working life there. He is unusual among medieval artists for being well documented. Duccio's art is based o Byzantine sources, but was deeply influenced by the sculpture of the Pisani and by French Gothic metalwork. His work is both decorative in the use of line, colour and pattern, and highly expressive. He is less interested in volume, than his younger contemporary Giotto.


For earlier works and for more biographical notes, see part 1 also.

This is part 2 of 2-part post on the works of Duccio:


1311 completed Maestà: Virtual reconstruction of the front side of the Maestà. Top row (arches):


The Angel Gabriel
oil on wood panel 30 x 18.3 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Main panel, Madonna with Angels and Saints:




Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Arched Panel (The wand in the Angel's hand identifies him as an archangel. With these wands the archangels expelled Satan from heaven, thereby securing their privileged position as messengers of God):


Archangel (workshop of Duccio)
 egg tempera and tooled gold on panel with vertical grain
24.4 x 17.1 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA

Top row of panels:

The announcement of the death to the Virgin
41.5 x 54 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Mary's Farewell to John
41.5 x 54 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Farewell to the Apostles
41.5 x 54 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Dormitio Virginis
40 x 45.5 cm
Museo dell'OPera del Duomo, Siena

Funeral of Mary
58 x 52.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Burial of Mary
41 x 54.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Bottom row of panels:

The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel
tempera on single poplar panel (left side image)
43 × 16 cm (centre) 43 x 43.9 cm (right) 43 x 16 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Birth of Christ
43.8 x 44.5 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Adoration of the Magi
42.5 x 43.5 cm

Soloman
42.5 x 16 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Presentation at the temple
42.5 x 43 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Prophet Malachi
42.5 x 16 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Massacre of the Innocents
42.5 x 43.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Prophet Jeremiah
42.5 x 16 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Flight into Egypt
42.5 x 44 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Prophet Hosea
42.5 x 16 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Dispute in the temple 
42.5 x 43 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Virtual reconstruction of the front side of the Maestà

Appearance behind closed doors
39.5 x 51.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena 

Doubting Thomas
55.5 x 50.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Apparition on Lake Tiberias
36.5 x 47.5 cm
Museo dell' Opera del Duomo, Siena

Apparition on the Mount of Galilee
36.5 x 47.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Appearance at the Apostles' Supper
39.5 x 51.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Pentecost
37.5 x 42.5 cm 
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena 

The Predella:

Temptation of Christ
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Temptation on the mountain
43 x 46 cm
The Frick Collection, New York

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew
43.5 x 46 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Marriage at Cana 
43.5 x 46.5 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Christ and the Samaritan
43.5 x 46 cm
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid

The Healing of the Man born Blind
45.1 x 46.7 cm
National Gallery, London

The Transfiguration
48.5 x 51.4 cm
The National Gallery, London

Top row of panels:

Christ before Pilate again 
50 x 57 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

Crucifixion
100 x 76 cm

Burial
50 x 53 cm
Museo dell'OPera del Duomo, Siena

Bottom row of panels
Museo dell'OPera del Duomo, Siena:

Christ Entering Jerusalem

Last Supper and Washing of the Feet
100 x 53.5 cm

Christ Separates from the Apostles and the Betrayal of Judas
99.5 x 53.5 cm
 

Prayer in Gethsemane and Kiss of Judas
99.5 x 76 cm 

 Christ before Pilate and Accusation of the Pharisees
98 x 57 cm
 

Christ before Caiaphas and Christ mocked
98.5 x 53.5 cm

Betrayal of Peter and Christ before the High Priest
99 x 53.5 cm

Christ returns to Pontius Pilate and Christ before Herod
100 x 57 cm

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