The Crucifixion

Ugolino di Nerio was one of the most important Sienese painters of the early Trecento, a contemporary of Duccio who developed his own monumental approach to altarpiece painting. This Crucifixion, dating to around 1315, likely formed part of Ugolino's celebrated altarpiece for Santa Croce in Florence, one of the most ambitious polyptychs of the era, later dismembered and dispersed across multiple collections. The work represents a significant Sienese contribution to Florence's greatest Franciscan church.

Tempera and gold on panel, with Christ's body rendered in a graceful, curving arc that emphasizes both suffering and spiritual transcendence. Ugolino's approach combines Ducciesque refinement with a more sculptural, volumetric treatment of the body that reflects awareness of Giotto's innovations.