ONLINE PROGRAM

Siena: A Gothic Dream

Elaine Ruffolo, Renaissance art historian

Perched on three hills, Siena is the most beautiful city in Tuscany, a captivating medieval ensemble of palaces and towers built from warm brown, burnt-Siena-colored brick. Its skyline is dominated by the striking black and white cathedral banner and the Torre di Mangia. The Palazzo Pubblico, the heart of the city, is just a short walk from olive groves and orchards. This contrast adds to Siena's charm: densely built brick urbanity beside expansive Tuscan farmland. Here, art and civic pride merged to create a distinctive world. Siena is acclaimed not only for its medieval allure but also for its significant contribution to art history. During the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, Siena cultivated a unique artistic identity that rivaled Florence. While Florence emphasized humanism and realism, Sienese art maintained a more spiritual, decorative, and mystical quality. Central to this was the Sienese School, which produced renowned painters like Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers. Their works are characterized by elegant lines, vibrant colors, and a profound sense of devotion, flourishing within the city's rich civic and religious culture, especially its reverence for the Virgin Mary. In this lecture, we will explore how Sienese artists shaped the broader development of European art while preserving their distinct style, reflecting the unique cultural, political, and religious landscape of medieval and Renaissance Siena. 

$15 fee for guests and subscribers (no fee for members)