The Enthroned Madonna shown here , was commissioned by the wealthy Ruccellai family,
and painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna in 1285 for the Florentine church of Sta. Maria Novella,
where it was placed at one time in the Ruccellai family chapel.
Thus it is often called the "Ruccellai Madonna".
At some point, it was removed from Sta. Maria Novella, and brought into the Uffizi.

In the very first room in the main galleries on the third floor of the Uffizi , there are three major Enthroned Madonnas,
one by Duccio, one by Cimabue and one by Giotto.
All three of these altarpieces, each made for different churches,, are made of tempera and gilt on wood panel.
and painted before the advent of oil paint,

The Virgin is shown in her typical blue garment, in a traditional style with the Christ Child on her lap,
a motif directly taken from Byzantine icons.
She is surrounded on the sides by angels supporting her throne.

The room where Duccio's altarpiece is shown, contrasts the artist's earlier more formal style
with Giotto's Enthroned Madonna, which is more naturalistic and less formal.

The people looking at this masterpiece give a good sense of scale to the figures in the painting.