The Coronation of the Virgin

This is one of the earliest works in the collection. As his name suggests, the painter was from Siena in central Italy. He belongs to only a handful of identified artists from the period.

For a long time, works of art were seen as collaborative, and individual painters remained anonymous. This changed when artists began asserting their identity in contracts.

This painting originally formed the top of an altarpiece composed of several panels. During the 19th century, many altarpieces were taken apart and their sections sold off to collectors. Several other works in this room are also fragments of larger works. Reuniting the different elements of dismantled altarpieces is difficult, especially as their subject matter is often very similar.

This painting represents the crowning of the Virgin Mary by Christ upon her ascent into Heaven. One of the most popular themes of its day, it was considered particularly appropriate for works destined to be shown higher up.