Most memorable pizza of my career

Painting in early 14th century Siena, unlike Florence, Venice or Padua, is perhaps most original for its small narrative scenes. But these small panels tend to have been disassembled from the original polyptychs and dispersed, if not, lost. In the @metmuseum ‘s new exhibition devoted to Sienese painting from 1300-1350, at least three exceptional ensembles whose elements have long been split up now come together. Most extraordinarily, all eight extant back predella panels of Duccio’s ‘Maesta’ are on view. Painted around 1310 for the great high altar of the Siena Duomo, these are the earliest surviving examples of narrative predellas. There is also Simone Martini’s Orsini polyptych with its brilliant, gilded concertina-like ensemble of panels intended to be folded and portable, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s colorful scenes from the life of St Nicholas. An anchor for the exhibition, as well as the Met’s collection is the precious ‘Stoclet Madonna’ by Duccio – its acquisition was set in motion 20 years ago, over what remains the most memorable pizza of my career at Serafina on 79th and Madison.