Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Stories from the Life of St Nicholas, about 1332-4. Uffizi, Florence.
The exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting will be at the National Gallery, London, from 8 March to 22 June 2025, following its acclaimed success in New York. Setting out to show how many of the innovations which we associate with the 15th-century Florentine Renaissance really have their origins in Siena a century before. Join Dr Richard Stemp for this two-part ARTscapades short course to investigate more closely; looking at the four key protagonists of this much lauded exhibition, and using our enhanced understanding of their paintings to interpret the works by their contemporaries – often in other media –which are also on display.
Includes two lectures, Q&A and a short break. Tickets £20
Part Two — Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti
Lecture One: Simone Martini is often considered Duccio’s true heir, having been commissioned to paint his own Maestà in fresco on the walls of the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. He was also commissioned to paint The Annunciation for one of the four altars surrounding Duccio’s great altarpiece. Although neither of these projects is represented in the exhibition the small-scale works which are included are arguably even better. Christ discovered in the Temple, from the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, is undoubtedly one of the greatest trecento paintings in Britain. There are also two reconstructed altarpieces, the Orsini Polyptych, a masterpiece of elegance and delicacy, whose four double-sided panels are on loan from three separate institutions. Three others have lent the five panels from the Palazzo Pubblico Altarpiece – we will probably never have another chance to see them together again.
Lecture Two: Ambrogio Lorenzetti is most celebrated for his frescoes of Good and Bad Government, and while these are still in situ, that will not prevent us from looking at them during the second talk today. The refinement of his fresco technique will be represented in the exhibition by a detached fragment showing A Group of Four Poor Clares from the National Gallery, and the technique will also be illustrated by a sinopia – an underdrawing for a fresco – of an Annunciation. As with the other artists, we will consider the exhibited works in detail, putting them into the context of his career as a whole, and including as many other exhibits by Ambrogio’s contemporaries as possible.
To book for Part One of SHORT COURSE Four Sienese Artists please click here.
Siena: The Rise of Painting (1300-1350) is at the National Gallery, London, from 8 March to 22 June 2025.
This event will be recorded. Ticket holders are emailed a link to view the recording afterwards which is available for one month. Proceeds from ARTscapades ticket sales benefit museums, galleries and other arts-based organisations and projects.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live with Q&A, or on-demand for one month afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.