I visited Siena where I saw Duccio’s Maesta and also the Good and Bad Government fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. It was interesting to contrast the development of the painted space in the short span of time between Duccio’s Maesta and Lorenzetti’s fresco. I had only seen the 3 small panels of Duccio at the National Gallery in London so it was extremely exciting to see the original composition of the various panels together. I was also incredibly moved to see the beautiful painting of the Birth of the Virgin by Pietro Lorenzetti in the same room. It reminded me of Matisse. These were the links I couldn’t be making from books and it was this kind of understanding which I found so very important and valuable for me, only by being in front of these works physically. This is something the BSR experience provided for me over and over again.

— Peter McDonald