Rucellai Madonna

Duccio di Buoninsegna · 1285

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Duccio di Buoninsegna

Italian · 1255–1319

Sienese school

Duccio di Buoninsegna, commonly known as just Duccio, was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religious buildings around Italy. Duccio is considered one of the greatest Italian painters of the Middle Ages, and is credited with creating the painting styles of Trecento Gothic style and the Sienese school.

Independent artist guide by Momentable. Biography from Wikipedia; artworks credited to the museums that hold them.

Stream Duccio di Buoninsegna Wikipedia

Rucellai Madonna — The living window: art moves here the way it moves in your living room.

life: 1255–1319life
movement: Sienese schoolmovement

The work

A selection of 3 works, free to stream.

Christ and the Samaritan Woman
Duccio di Buoninsegna · 1310
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew
Duccio di Buoninsegna
National Gallery of Art

Works worth knowing

2 of Duccio di Buoninsegna's works, and what makes each one worth a look.

How Duccio di Buoninsegna worked

From the record of their own practice.

Duccio's known works are on wood panel, painted in egg tempera and embellished with gold leaf. Differently from his contemporaries and artists before him, Duccio was a master of tempera and managed to conquer the medium with delicacy and precision. There is no clear evidence that Duccio painted frescoes. Duccio's style was similar to Byzantine art in some ways, with its gold backgrounds and familiar religious scenes; however, it was also different and more experimental. Duccio began to break down the sharp lines of Byzantine art, and soften the figures.