The Metropolitan Museum of Art will open the first major exhibition in the United States focusing on early Sienese painting. “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350” will examine an exceptional moment at the dawn of the Italian Renaissance and the pivotal role of Sienese artists—including Duccio, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini—in defining Western painting. In the decades leading up to the catastrophic onset of the plague around 1350, Siena was the site of phenomenal artistic innovation and activity. While Florence is often positioned as the center of the Renaissance, this presentation will offer a fresh perspective on the importance of Siena, from Duccio’s profound influence on a new generation of painters to the development of narrative altarpieces and the dissemination of artistic styles beyond Italy. The exhibition will be on view October 13, 2024, through January 26, 2025.

The exhibition is made possible in part by Laura and John Arnold, a gift in memory of Regina Jaglom Wachter, The Richard and Natalie Jacoff Foundation, Inc., Trevor and Alexis Traina, and the Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation.

The exhibition was organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Gallery, London.

“Siena was an epicenter of artistic innovation and ambition in the 14th and 15th century. Its impact on the development of European art and on the development of painting cannot be underestimated.” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO. “This monumental exhibition will bring together the most important group of early Sienese paintings ever assembled outside of Siena—offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the influence of this extraordinary artistic center.”