Madonna and Child on a Throne (front side of altarpiece) 1311

This is Duccio's "Madonna and Child on a Throne", part of a larger altarpiece created in Siena, Italy, around the early 14th century. The composition immediately strikes you with its symmetrical arrangement. The Virgin and Child are centrally placed, anchoring the work, their figures rendered in a darker palette that contrasts with the gold background. This use of gold is not merely decorative; it flattens the space, drawing attention to the symbolic rather than the illusionistic. Duccio employs hierarchical scale, positioning the Madonna larger than the surrounding saints and angels, reinforcing her spiritual importance. Look at the arrangement of figures. They're not placed in a naturalistic setting but are carefully organized to create a sense of order and divine harmony. The artist uses line and form to convey meaning, emphasizing the iconic status of the Madonna and Child. The geometric structure of the throne, combined with the flattened space, invites us to consider how Duccio challenges conventional perspective to communicate spiritual truths.