Saints Matthew and James the Less
Ugolino di Nerio·1325
Historical Context
This panel depicting Saints Matthew and James the Less by Ugolino di Nerio dates to around 1325 and originally formed part of a large polyptych altarpiece, likely the high altar of Santa Croce in Florence. Ugolino was the leading pupil of Duccio di Buoninsegna in Siena, and his work bridges the refined elegance of the Sienese school with the monumental gravity demanded by Florentine patrons. The Santa Croce altarpiece was one of the most ambitious polyptych commissions of the early fourteenth century.
Technical Analysis
Painted in egg tempera on panel with extensive gilding, the two saints are rendered with Ugolino's characteristic fusion of Sienese linear grace and Giottesque solidity. Tooled gold halos and punch-work decoration in the background reflect the refined craftsmanship of the Sienese workshop tradition.
