An exploration of a crucial turning point in Italian art the early 1300s in the city of Siena
“This is a book to be savored and treasured much like the objects it celebrates.”—Ann Landi
Wall Street Journal In the early 1300s the city of Siena gave rise to an extraordinary
period of creativity and innovation. Painters sculptors and goldsmiths produced remarkable
works whose impact was felt far beyond the city’s walls. From vast altarpieces to portable
objects for private devotion the art emanating from Siena left an enduring legacy. This
book explores a crucial turning point in Italian art when the prestige of painting reached new
heights. Siena became the centre of a rich exchange of ideas as painters took inspiration from
marble and ivory sculptures intricate metalwork and precious imported silks to enhance the
power of their work. Travelling beyond their native city Sienese artists made their mark
across Italy and into northern Europe. Beautifully illustrated and featuring important new
scholarship chapters explore masterpieces by four of Siena’s most illustrious painters—Duccio
Simone Martini and Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti—alongside objects in other media and from
other countries and cultures encouraging fresh perspectives and dialogues between these
groundbreaking works. Published by National Gallery Global Distributed by Yale University
Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (13 October
2024–26 January 2025) The National Gallery London (8 March–22 June 2025)
