Signed and dated 1348, the year Bernardo Daddi died, this splendid polyptych is the artist’s last documented work. The painting was made for the small church of San Giorgio a Ruballa in Bagno a Ripoli, just south of Florence. It is designed to be understood both from afar and up close.
The central panel showcases Daddi’s abilities as a storyteller. Mary faints to the left, surrounded by Christ’s grieving followers, while a group of indifferent soldiers gamble on the right. The composition of the central panel is carefully planned so that when the priest raised the host during Mass, his raised hands would align with the painted body of Christ on the cross.
The saints who flank the central Crucifixion scene wear richly coloured and intricately gilded fabrics. Among these textiles the green-on-blue fabrics are particularly striking for their three-dimensionality, created through carefully applied layers of paint.
