Saint Dominic

Although this is the oldest known portrayal of Saint Dominic, analysis shows that his face was repainted twice within a surprisingly short period. The original visage was placed at the exact center of the painting (traces of the left ear are clearly visible). A second face, painted over the first around 1260, broke its rigid centrality by shifting the head to the left. This face was then repainted again only twenty years later by a painter working in a style that was current in Siena during the last quarter of the thirteenth century.

Since there is no sign that the panel was damaged, the motivation for repainting such an important cult image must have been a desire to bring the image into line with newer conventions that aimed to make the saint appear more empathetic and accessible.