MaestÃ
Maestà (Italian, from Latin maiestas ) means " majesty, sovereign dignity." The term is used in the art for the representation of the enthroned Madonna with the Child Jesus. In contrast to the Sedes sapientiae the Madonna is often surrounded by angels and saints.
Particularly often such representations in the second half of the 12th century and in the 13th century frescoes ( wall paintings), or as a panel painting created on altar panels of wood ( altarpieces ). Famous examples are found in Siena, Italy, in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo ( Maesta by Duccio ) in the Palazzo Pubblico ( Maestà by Simone Martini), in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi ( Maestà by Cimabue ), and in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence ( Maestà di Santa Trinita ).