Duccio's 'Maesta' and Its Significance

What is the primary subject depicted on the front of Duccio's 'Maesta'?

• The Last Supper

• Scenes from the Old Testament

• The life of Christ

• The Virgin Mary in majesty

Why was the 'Maesta' commissioned by the town of Siena?

• To mark the end of a plague

• To celebrate a victory over Florence

• To honor the birth of a new king

• To commemorate the construction of a new cathedral

What was the primary reason fresco was not used in the Cathedral of Siena?

• The cathedral was not yet completed

• Fresco was not popular in Siena

• The interior was made of black and white marble

• The cathedral was too small

Which artist's work was the 'Maesta' seen as a response to?

• Giotto

• Michelangelo

• Raphael

• Leonardo da Vinci

What artistic technique is used in the 'Maesta' to create a sense of volume and mass?

• Impressionism

• Cubism

• Chiaroscuro

• Pointillism

What role did the Virgin Mary play in the religious practices of the medieval era?

• A prophet

• A philosopher

• A warrior

• An intercessor

What is unique about the back of the 'Maesta' compared to the front?

• It depicts only angels

• It is smaller in size

• It contains more panels

• It is painted in black and white

How does Duccio create a sense of a crowd in the 'Entry of Christ into Jerusalem' panel?

• By using a single large figure

• By adding more trees

• By depicting figures in reverse perspective

• By using bright colors

What happened to the 'Maesta' in the 18th century?

• It was destroyed in a fire

• It was cut up for private purchase

• It was restored to its original state

• It was moved to a different cathedral

What is the significance of the gold background in the 'Maesta'?

• It represents the earthly realm

• It indicates the heavenly and spiritual

• It was a common practice in Roman art

• It was used to highlight specific figures