Virgin Adoring the Christ Child
after 1479
Medium
Relief: glazed terracotta; frame: gilt wood (not original)
Dimensions
36 × 18 1/2 in. (91.4 × 47 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Italian, Florence
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George D. Pratt, 1935
Accession Number
39.186.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the serene glow of glazed terracotta, Andrea della Robbia's *Virgin Adoring the Christ Child* (after 1479) captures a tender moment of divine motherhood from Renaissance Florence. This relief sculpture, measuring 36 × 18½ inches, showcases the artist's mastery of the Della Robbia family's signature technique: vibrant, tin-glazed earthenware that mimics the luminosity of enamel while offering durability for both indoor altarpieces and outdoor niches. The original gilt wood frame enhances its devotional elegance, though it's a later addition. Crafted in the workshops of Florence—cradle of th...
About the Artist
Andrea della Robbia
Andrea della Robbia was one of the most successful and prolific of the della Robbia family. He trained with his uncle, Luca della Robbia, assisting in his workshop, and by 1470, had assumed its supervision. Typically, his works are more complex than Luca's, with more expressive figures and compositions. He worked on many commissions during the 1470s, and also began a series of tin-glazed terracott...