The Apostle Bartholomew 1311

Duccio painted this image of 'The Apostle Bartholomew' in the early 14th century, using tempera and gold leaf on wood. At the time it was made, this panel would likely have been part of a larger altarpiece installed in a church, perhaps in Duccio's native Siena. Religious images like this one played a vital role in shaping the spiritual lives of people in Italy at the time. They also reinforced the authority of the church through the use of conventional symbols and imagery. Duccio's careful realism seems progressive for its time, but his style also reflects the influence of Byzantine art, which remained a powerful force in Italian painting. It is interesting to consider the ways in which artists balanced innovation with tradition. As art historians, we use documentary sources, such as contracts, letters, and inventories to understand the social and economic conditions in which artworks were made. This image reminds us that the meaning of art is always shaped by its historical context.