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How did the Black Death affect the economy of Siena?

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Medieval illustration of Brotherhood of the Cross flagellants in robes and pointed hats walking in procession, some carrying a crucifix and banners, during the Black Death. — Black Death Flagellants in the Netherlands scourging themselves in atonement, believing that the Black Death is a punishment from God for their sins, 1349.

The Black Death dealt a decisive blow to the economy of Siena, causing a significant decline in the city's prosperity. The pandemic resulted in such a severe reduction in the population that the city was forced to abandon its ambitious project to enlarge the cathedral.12

Furthermore, the heavy loss of life among the city's talented artisans, including renowned painters such as Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti, brought an abrupt and premature end to the development of the first Sienese school of art. These events contributed to a broader era of economic and moral depression in the city, which persisted for decades following the initial outbreak.21