Exterior of the wings of the triptych

This exterior view of triptych wings by Taddeo Gaddi dates to around 1334 and represents the often-overlooked reverse sides of hinged altarpieces, which were visible when the triptych was closed. Gaddi, Giotto's most faithful pupil, understood that the exterior of a portable altarpiece served as its public face during the liturgical seasons when it remained shut. The exteriors of Gothic triptychs were typically painted in more restrained tones, often in grisaille or with simple devotional imagery.

Painted in egg tempera on panel, the triptych exterior likely employs a more subdued palette than the richly gilded interior, as was conventional for Gothic altarpiece reverses. Gaddi's handling of these functional surfaces demonstrates the practical workshop knowledge he acquired during his long apprenticeship with Giotto.