Siena. The Rise of Painting 1300-1350

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 traces the evolution of a celebrated era of Italian art, a turning point when the prestige of painting reached new heights.
Siena became the centre of a rich exchange of ideas between artists and art forms, 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.
Their paintings are considered alongside objects from other countries and cultures, encouraging fresh perspectives and dialogues between these groundbreaking works.