I am often amazed and delighted (and sometimes frustrated) by the wonders of technology. Although I generally still turn to books first when I want information, there are times when the Internet triumphs. That's the case with two excellent websites on the art of the lovely city of Siena, which we will visit on 
An Artful Tour of Florence and Venice next October.
The first, one of the Web Gallery of Art's cyber-tours, Art in Siena, offers a thorough introduction not only to the painting, sculpture and notable artists of medieval Siena, but also to its history and culture. Click on the Content of the Tour button to choose a subject, and then be sure to click on the highlighted words for photos, and in some cases, further information. It's truly a virtual mini-course on this magnificent medieval city.
Another great website for learning about the art of Siena is the National Gallery of Art' s Painting in Siena "Tour". Here you'll find photos and information about Sienese paintings in their collection in Washington D.C. Although we obviously won't be seeing these particular works in Italy, we will see other fine examples by the same artists represented here. This is a particularly good site, and it offers several other virtual art tours. It is well worth checking out
You might also enjoy a couple of articles previously published here about two famous Sienese paintings now hanging in the Uffizi in Florence: Simone Martini's Annunciation and Duccio's Rucellai Madonna.
I love the art of Siena with its lavish use of gold, bright colors, and overall elegance. It has a style and serene beauty all its own, and both Teresa and I are looking forward to showing you our favorite pieces when we travel to Italy in the fall.
