Documents mentioning Duccio, son of Boninsegna, are several, but not all of them referring to his activity as a painter, and very few quote works which effectively came intact to our attention. Surprisingly high in number the fines inflicted to the artist for the most different reasons: debts not paid back and disertion, among the others.
Duccio's year of birth still remains unknown (probably estimated during the late middle 13th Century): the oldest document regarding him is dated back to November 1278, when he gets paid to paint twelve boxes used to contain documents for the Comune di Siena, now lost, like the several decorations of public records of which remained knowledge for years to come.


The first really important commission for Duccio, of which we have official knowledge, dates back to April, 15th 1285: a "tabula magna" to be painted for the Compagnia dei Laudesi in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.
This work came to us in perfect conditions since today, and it's the famous "Madonna Rucellai" held at the Uffizi, a very big altarpiece, the biggest of the whole 13th Century, depicting Mary holding a baby Jesus in her lap, sitting on an enormous throne flanked by six colourful angels.
The fact the Florentines decided to commission such an important work to a Sienese artist witnesses Duccio's fame, even ouside his native town, despite of his young age.


In years not so far from the "Madonna Rucellai", other "Madonnas" showing close similarities with the Uffizi painting are dated: the one from the Sabaudian Gallery in Turin, that one coming from Buonconvento Museum, the one of the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo di Siena (coming from the church of Santa Cecilia in Crevole) and the very small one, worshipped by three friars, in Siena's Pinacotheca; all of them on display during the exhibition. Dating back to the same period, there will be a "Crucifix", coming from a private collection, painted still alive and open-eyed, in the style of a very popular iconography during the Romanesque period, but quite rare at the turn of 13th Century: it is a wonderful work of art, pretty obscure, and will be on exhibition too.