o Lorenzo di
Bartolo Ghiberti, this picture was a Coronation of Our Lady, very
much in the Byzantine style, though mingled with much that is modern.
It was painted on both sides, as the altar stood out by itself, and
on the back Duccio had with great care painted all the principal
incidents of the New Testament in some very fine small figures. I
have endeavoured to discover the whereabouts of the picture at the
present time, but although I have taken the utmost pains in the
search, I have not succeeded in finding it or of learning what
Francesco di Giorgio the sculptor did with it, when he restored the
tabernacle in bronze as well as the marble ornaments there. At Siena
Duccio did many pictures on a gold ground and an Annunciation for S.
Trinita, Florence. He afterwards painted many things at Pisa, Lucca
and Pistoia for different churches, which were all much admired and
brought him much reputation and profit. The place of his death is not
known, nor are we aware what relations, pupils or property he left.
It is enough that he left to art the inheritance of his inventions in
painting, marble and chiaroscuro, for which he is worthy of the
highest commendation and praise. He may safely be enumerated among
the benefactors who have increased the dignity and beauty of our
craft, and those who pursue investigations into the difficulties of
rare inventions, deserve a special place in our remembrance for this
cause apart from their marvellous productions.

It is said at Siena that in 1348 Duccio designed the chapel which is
on the piazza in front of the principal palace. It is also recorded
that another native of Siena called Moccio, flourished at the same
time. He was a fair sculptor and architect and did many works in
every part of Tuscany, but chiefly at Arezzo in the Church of S.
Domenico, where he made a marble tomb for of the Cerchi. This tomb
supports and decorates the organ of that church, and if some object
that it is not a work of high excellence, I reply that it must be
considered a very fair production seeing that he made it in the year
1356 while quite a youth. He was employed on the work of S. Maria del
Fiore as under architect and as sculptor, doing some things in marble
for that structure. In Arezzo he rebuilt the Church of S. Agostino,
which was small, in its present form, the expense being borne by
heirs of Piero Saccone de' Tarlati, who had provided for this before
his death at Bibbiena in the territory of C