An Abbess and a Painter. Emilia Panocchieschi d'Elci and a Fresco from the Circle of Simone Martini.

'Emilia founded the convent and church of the Augustinian nuns Santa Marta at Siena in 1328. She was elected abbess of the monastery on 21 August 1329. Her family was on friendly terms with the Hermits of St. Augustine at Siena. These contacts and relationships between the Panocchieschi d'Elci, the Augustinians and the artistic legacy of Simone Martini permits the proposal of a tentative, but entirely plausible hypothesis concerning the commissioning of the fresco of the Funeral of Saint Martha in the church of the convent of Santa Marta in Siena'.