The Palio of Duccio 2003

With few touches of brush the sober face of the Virgin, inspired by the stained-glass window of Duccio in the apse of the Duomo of Siena, becomes the symbol of the carrier of August 16th 2003. "(...) A mysteriously stimulating sensation of those long, tapering, elegant and distant hands, of those almond-eyes, leant to tables like commas. Those are Byzantine hands and eyes; queen's hands and eyes, hands that can stroke, eyes that can judge, superior and far away. Duccio's beauty is austerity, consciousness, rigour. His Virgin Mother does not compromise. She could also forgive her sons, but they will certainly have to deserve it, and it will certainly be hard!"

Andrea Rauch