Boy Saint John

Giovanni della Robbia

15th–16th century

Boy Saint John by Giovanni della Robbia

Medium

Terracotta, enamelled and painted

Dimensions

Height: 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm)

Classification

Sculpture

Culture

Italian, Florence

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number

17.190.1408

Tags

BoysSaints

Art Historical Context

In the heart of Renaissance Florence, Giovanni della Robbia crafted *Boy Saint John* during the late 15th or early 16th century, his family's renowned workshop tradition. The Della Robbias, led by Luca, Andrea, and Giovanni, revolutionized sculpture with their signature tin-glazed terracotta, blending the durability of clay with the luminosity of colorful enamels. This small-scale figure (just 14⅜ inches tall) depicts the young Saint John the Baptist, Florence's patron saint, symbolizing innocence, prophecy, and devotion—a popular motif for private chapels and homes. The artwork's medium is k...

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