Lippo Memmi
The painting originally decorated the altar of St. Crescentius in the Cathedral of Siena, and had been commissioned as part of a cycle of four altarpieces dedicated to the city's patrons saints (St. Ansanus, St. Sabinus of Spoleto, St. Crescentius and St. Victor) during 1330-1350. These included the "Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus" by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, the "Nativity of the Virgin" by Pietro Lorenzetti (1342, Altar of St. Sabinus), and a "Nativity", now disassembled, attributed to Bartolomeo Bulgarini from 1351 (altar of St. Victor). All the paintings should represent stories of the Life of the Madonna, and were crowned by Duccio di Buoninsegna's "Maestà". The use of expensive lacquer in the paintings and lapis lazuli shows the prestige of the commission.