The apostles of Maria (Fragment) 1311

Duccio painted this fragment, The Apostles of Maria, sometime in the early 14th century, using tempera on wood. The original altarpiece would have been commissioned for a church in Siena, Italy, a city-state in constant competition with Florence for artistic and political dominance. Duccio’s style, while still rooted in the Byzantine tradition, anticipates the naturalism that would come to define the Renaissance. Look at how the arrangement of figures creates depth, suggesting a shared psychological space. These details signal a shift in the function of religious art, from iconic representation to a more emotional and narrative form. Consider the social function of such an altarpiece. It visually reinforces the religious doctrines upheld by the Catholic Church while also reflecting the wealth and power of its commissioners. Art historians consult church records, contracts, and other documents to better understand the forces that shaped artworks like this.