The Blessed Andrea Gallerani (died 1251)

In the pictureWithin a pointed arch on a gold ground stands a man in a black hat and black cloak. His face is gaunt and bearded; one hand is tucked inside his cloak and the other is extended forward. Beneath his feet is a patterned floor, and the panel is narrow and tall, 18 cm wide and 51 cm high.

BackgroundAndrea Gallerani was a 13th-century nobleman of Siena, venerated as Blessed for founding a hospital and caring for the poor. Giovanni di Paolo was the most individual painter of 15th-century Siena, known for long, thin figures and sharp faces. This panel pairs with The Blessed Ambrogio Sansedoni in the same museum and was part of an altarpiece honoring Siena's local saints.

Puzzle tipThe image is very tall, so the pieces are narrow. Fit the flesh-toned pieces of the face and hands first, then the black cloak by the light lines of its folds, and fill in the gold-leaf pieces starting with those that catch the curve of the arch. 24 or 48 pieces is a good fit.