Joy of Museums Virtual Tours

Virtual Tours of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites

“The Healing of the Man born Blind” by Duccio

"The Healing of the Man born Blind" by Duccio
“The Healing of the Man Born Blind” by Duccio

“The Healing of the Man Born Blind” by Duccio shows Christ in the center of the scene, and the blind man is shown twice in the composition.

The man is shown being touched by Christ on his eyes, and then the man is shown looking up with his sight restored and dropping his guiding stick on the right of the canvas.

The two episodes are linked visually by the blind man’s rod. This painting is an early example of how Italian artists began leading the move away from the traditions of Byzantine art.

Duccio started by making people’s faces, hands, and feet more expressive and realistic. Duccio introduced warmer colors and attempts at portraying the perspective of the background architecture.

This was one of the scenes on the back predella named Duccio’s ‘Maestà.’ The back predella illustrated scenes from Christ’s life and ministry. 

The Maestà of Duccio is an altarpiece composed of many individual paintings commissioned by the city of Siena in 1308 from the artist Duccio di Buoninsegna.

This panel was initially positioned to the left of “The Transfiguration,” thus, the blind man was looking with his newly restored sight at a vision of Christ transfigured.

The ‘Maestà’ is a double-sided altarpiece in which the front panels show the enthroned Madonna and Child with saints and angels, and a predella of the Childhood of Christ with prophets.

The reverse of the panel has the rest of the cycle of the Life of the Virgin and the Life of Christ. A total of forty-three small scenes. 

Duccio’s Maestà set Italian painting founded on Byzantine art towards more realistic presentations.

Duccio

Duccio di Buoninsegna was active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He completed many important works in government and religious buildings around Italy.

Duccio is credited with creating the painting styles of the Sienese school.

The Healing of the Man Born Blind

  • Title:           The Healing of the Man Born Blind
  • Artist:         Duccio
  • Year:           1311
  • Medium:    Tempera on wood
  • Dimensions: 45.1 x 46.7 cm
  • Museum:    National Gallery, London

Duccio

A Tour of The National Gallery

13th Century Paintings

14th Century Paintings

15th Century Paintings

16th Century Paintings

17th Century Paintings

18th Century Paintings

19th Century Paintings

20th Century Paintings

Explore The National Gallery

Duccio + A Collection of 158 paintings

~~~

“You must change your life.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke

~~~


Photo Credit: 1) Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Popular this Week

Museums, Art Galleries & Historical Sites - Virtual Tours
Japanese Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings
Greek Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings
Complaint Tablet To Ea-Nasir - World's Oldest Complaint Letter
Korean Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings
German Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings
"The Martyr of Solway" by John Everett Millais
Indian Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings
Egyptian Museum - Virtual Tour
Turkish Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings

SEARCH