"In this volume, we are brought face to face with the ultimate masterpiece of Sienese painting: Duccio's Maesta or Virgin in Majesty. Painted between 1308 and 1311, the Maesta was destined for a venerated position on the high altar of Siena Cathedral. Measuring nearly five metres in height and width, the completion of this vast altarpiece was celebrated by the whole city, marking an exceptional moment in the artistic and cultural history of Siena." "Beginning by looking at the work as a whole, Luciano Bellosi goes on to document each section, before isolating and examining particular details, reproduced to scale. He explores the historical background and provides an iconographic interpretation of the altarpiece, while shedding light on Duccio's personality and the creative process behind his work."--Jacket.