Duccio di Buoninsegna's Madonna and Child

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“The Met’s very own Mona Lisa” (Tomkins 9). That is what Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Madonna and Child painting is known as today. “The Metropolitan Museum of Art bought the Madonna and Child for forty-five to fifty million dollars” (Tomkins 1). However, the painting was not always in public hands; in fact, the Met purchased the last known work of Duccio in private hands. Originally, the painting was held in the private hands of Adolphe Stoclet and his wife. When the couple died, their house and their collection went to their son, Jacques who held onto the painting, and passed it down to his daughters who lent it to an exhibition in Siena of Duccio and his school. The painting was eventually withdrawn from the exhibition and sold (Tomkins 2). Madonna and Child painting dated 1300 and was painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna a Sienese painter, who is considered the founder of modern Italian painting. I chose to research this painting because the subject matter of religious imagery and symbols interests me. Also because when I looked at the painting the emotion on the Madonna’s face almost jumped out at me. It is as if, she is looking at her newborn child with this deep sadness, which almost makes you think that the painting is foreshadowing the death of Jesus Christ. In addition, the burns of the side of the frame peaked my interest, as to why they were there. Art critics were also interested in this work they even consider Madonna and Child one of Duccio’s perfect works, and it said to be worth all the other paintings exhibited under the name of Duccio (Christiansen 14). The Madonna and Child painting’s iconography, imagery, emotional appeal to the viewers, and meaning all make this painting still a great work of art today. ... ... middle of paper ... .... Eiland. N.p.: Georgia Museum of Art, 2000. Print. This book helped me verify that Madonna and Child was painted by Duccio Di Buoninsegna and not by one of his pupils Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2014. Print. The textbook gave me background on the culture during the thirteenth century, and the meaning behind some of Duccio’s paintings. Stubblebine, James H. Duccio Di Buoninsegna and His School. Vol. 1. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1979. Print. I used this book to learn about Giotto and some other painters of the time Tomkins, Calvin. "The Missing Madonna." The New Yorker. Ed. Calvin Tomkins. Calvin Tomkins, 11 July 2005. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. . As an art critic Calvin Tomkins gave an incite into the paintings meaning.

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