Madonna dagli occhi grossi

The Madonna dagli occhi grossi (Madonna with Large Eyes) by the Maestro di Tressa, painted around 1225, is one of the most venerated icons of medieval Siena and now resides in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. This large panel served as the principal altarpiece of the Siena Cathedral until it was replaced by Duccio's famous Maestà in 1311. The Maestro di Tressa (named after a crucifix at Tressa near Siena) was the leading Sienese painter of the early 13th century, working in the Italo-Byzantine tradition that laid the groundwork for Siena's later artistic golden age.

Painted in tempera and gold on a large wood panel, the icon presents the Virgin in a formal, frontal pose with the characteristically large, staring eyes that give the work its name. The gold ground, stylized drapery, and hieratic composition follow Byzantine prototypes, while the scale and grandeur of the panel reflect its function as the cathedral's high altarpiece.