The presentation in the temple

The Presentation in the Temple is a painting by the late medieval Italian painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti, signed and dated 1342, now located in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. It is one of the medieval Italian painter's largest works, as well as one of five he signed and dated.

The painting originally decorated the altar of St. Crescentius in Siena Cathedral, and had been commissioned as part of a cycle of four altarpieces dedicated to the city's patron saints (St. Ansanus, St. Sabinus of Spoleto, St. Crescentius and St. Victor). during 1330-1350. These included the Annunciation with Saint Margaret and Saint Ansanus by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, the Nativity of the Virgin by Pietro Lorenzetti (1342, Altar of San Sabino), and a Nativity, now dismantled, attributed to Bartolomeo Bulgarini from 1351 (altar of Saint Victor). All the paintings were supposed to represent stories from the Life of the Virgin and were crowned by the Maestà of Duccio di Buoninsegna. The use of expensive lacquer in the paintings and lapis lazuli shows the prestige of the commission.

Two 15th-century descriptions mention the work as a triptych, with two side panels depicting Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Crescentius the Martyr (who held his head in one hand), and then a predella. A century later, artists such as Giovanni di Paolo and Bartolo di Fredi executed copies of the painting. It was later dismantled and placed in a nunnery in Siena. The Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany was transferred to Florence in 1822. It became part of the Uffizi collection in 1913.