Duccio di Buoninsegna

Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1255-1260 - c. 1318-1319) was an Italian painter of Siena responsible for bringing attention to the painting styles of the Sienese school. Duccio typically worked in egg tempera on wood and decorated his panels lavishly with gold leaf. It is believed that Duccio was one of the first artists to truly master the medium of tempera. With their gold backgrounds Duccio's style can be seen as being influenced by Byzantine art, yet the painter was also adapting the tradition.

The rising interest in humanism during the renaissance was reflected in the art of the period. From the beginning of the 14th century, artists like Duccio began to experiment with producing more lifelike forms. This can be seen in the expressions of the figures, their interactions with each other, and their occupation of an organised space. In Duccio's crucifixion for example, the figures at the foot of the cross overlap each other creating the illusion of depth. Similarly, the expressions of the mourners realistically portray a sense of pain and anguish.