Video recommendation: Sunday at The Met—Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350

Fondo Oro:

While many exhibitions focus purely on visual curation, this video transports viewers deep into the technical and historical dialogues that shape our modern understanding of early Italian art. Centered on The Met’s landmark exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350, the presentations feature leading art historians who peel back the layers of 14th-century Sienese mastery. The discussion shines a spotlight on the innovative painting techniques of Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers, detailing how their material choices forever changed the trajectory of Western painting. For the Fondo Oro community, this panel offers an invaluable deep dive into the physical reality, preservation, and spiritual significance of the gold-ground medium itself. It stands as an essential resource that bridges rigorous academic scholarship with a profound aesthetic appreciation for the dawn of the Italian Renaissance.

Stephan Wolohojian, John Pope-Hennessy Curator in Charge, Department of European Paintings, The Met Sarah Guérin, Associate Professor, History of Art, University of Pennsylvania C. Griffith Mann, Michel David-Weill Curator in Charge, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Met Join us to discuss the exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 and gain insight into this exceptional moment at the dawn of the Italian Renaissance and the phenomenal artistic activity of 14th-century Siena. Learn about innovations in painting technique and the significance of materials through presentations and conversation with art historians. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350.