Simone Martini in London
The KMSKA lends a masterpiece to The National Gallery in London. The exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting explores the artistic blossoming of the 14th century, with a central role for Simone Martini. His Orsini Polyptych is temporarily travelling to the British capital. This small but radiant multi-panel painting is part of the KMSKA collection and is a rare example of Martini’s refined style. A unique opportunity to see this masterpiece in its historical context.
A rare reunion
The exhibition reunites all panels of the Orsini Polyptych for the first time in many years. Originally conceived as a four-part altarpiece with hinged panels, it served as a portable devotional object. Today, its parts are usually housed in Antwerp, Paris, and Berlin. The central panels depict the Crucifixion of Christ and the Descent from the Cross. On the inside of the wings, one finds the Carrying of the Cross and the Entombment, these are now in the Louvre and the Gemäldegalerie. When closed, the outer panels reveal the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. Together, they form the Annunciation: the moment Gabriel tells Mary she will become the mother of Christ.
The panels from the KMSKA-collection
A combination of emotion and detail
Martini plays with contrasts and emotion. In the central panels, the Crucifixion and the Descent from the Cross, he fills the composition with expressive figures, while Christ alone is given room to breathe. Every detail heightens the drama: Mary Magdalene appears like a fiery red flame at the foot of the cross, angels mourn in silent grief, and Mary collapses in sorrow. The scene is compact and intense, a miniature filled with monumental gestures.
The polyptych also stands out for its precious materials. The scenes are bathed in gold, which Martini meticulously embellishes with intricate patterns in halos and garments. Yet the figures are not lost in the shimmer: they stand out clearly, thanks to vivid colours and subtle shading. There is no setting, no background, only the timeless space of the divine.
The exhibit in Londen
Look at this masterwork yourself
The Orsini Polyptych is on view for a limited time at The National Gallery in London. A unique opportunity to discover this rare work in the context of Sienese painting.
