Sienese Altarpieces, 1215-1460 Form, Content, Function

"During the last years research on altarpieces has developed from an innocent art historical idiosyncracy into a scholarly activity that deserves the gratification 'fashionable.' Also the study of Sienese painting has been taken up by quite a few young scholars who in some cases opened up new perspectives on a rather neglected area of art history. Restoration campaigns have been carried out. Congresses and symposia have been held. Henk van Os has published for twenty years on Sienese painting and its original function. This book on altarpieces summarizes the extensive material published on this subject in the last decades. It opens a new perspective on the history of art of one of the centres of Italian painting thus providing a framework for further studies on this area." -- Cover page 4.