Pietro Lorenzetti

Senese Painter

In the 14^th century Siena was competing with Florence for the primacy of arts in Tuscany. An important school of painters, among them some of the most notable in the history of Italian arts, began to develop in the city of Siena. Duccio di Buoninsegna was its initiator, who in 1301 painted the famous “Maestà” for the Cathedral. Simone Martini (1284-1344), Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti (they both died during the black death epidemic in 1348), and Lipo Menni were among the other illustrious exponents of the Senese school. The last important painter of this school was Sassetta (15^th cent.).