Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 

at the National Gallery, 8 March - 22 June 

This Spring the National Gallery will celebrate the extraordinary artistic production of Siena in the first half of the 14th Century. At a time when the rivalry between the city and Florence was at its height, the curators aim to show how many of the innovations which are seen as essential to the Florentine Renaissance in the 15th century could actually be seen in Siena a century before... In a series of five talks we will set out to see if they are right - and to enjoy some fantastic art in the process. 

 We will start by looking at Duccio di Buoninsegna, whose Maestà was famous in Siena even before its completion. On 9 June 1311 it was carried from his studio to the Cathedral in a celebratory procession of great splendour. The box supporting the heavy, double-sided painting, known as the predella, was the first to be decorated with stories from the bible, a practice which rapidly became a convention. As many of the panels from this predella will be included in the exhibition, we will start by considering the work as a whole. We will look in depth at the other exhibited works by the master, notably the glorious triptychs from the Royal Collection and the National Gallery, and we will also examine works which are too fragile to move - such as the stained glass window he designed for Siena Cathedral, which would originally have been seen in relationship to the Maestà. 

 Please remember, I do not record my talks.