The compact size of the Daddi triptych and the small scale of its narrative sections are an indication of its use for personal devotion. Its tabernacle structure helps to involve the viewer in this devotional process, firstly by the dramatic ritual of opening the shutters to reveal the images inside, and then by surrounding the viewer with emotive scenes from the life of Christ.
Compositional links via gestures, colour, and repetition of motifs, emphasise the need for the viewer to study and contemplate the scenes at length, in order to understand and reflect upon the spiritual issues. The small scale of the characters within the narratives reminds us that this picture was viewer from close by. In fact, the most suitable viewing position is achieved by kneeling before the central panel, a pose encouraged by characters within the narratives.
Kneeling in front of it, the spectator is able to consider in depth each individual section, to empathise with the joys and sorrows of the biblical characters in the narratives, and to contemplate at length some of the fundamental beliefs of the Christian Church. Through the birth and death of Christ, presented in an accessible narrative form, the triptych allows the viewer to meditate on the mysteries of faith and salvation.
