Ugolino di Vieri: The Maestro of Siena Smalt Ugolino di Vieri (c. 1328 – May 10, 1516) stands as a towering figure in the artistic landscape of Siena and Renaissance Italy—a goldsmith, sculptor, poet, and humanist whose legacy continues to inspire awe and admiration centuries later. Born into a noble Florentine family steeped in legal tradition, Ugolino’s formative years were spent absorbing the intellectual currents of his time, ulti…