Plaster cast monument to Benozzo Federighi, Bishop of Fiesole, after marble and terracotta original by Luca della Robbia, Italy, cast. ca. 1888

Plaster cast of monument originally made in marble with glazed terracotta. This cast was taken the monument to Benozzo Federighi, Bishop of Fiesole by Luca della Robbia and is housed in the church of S. Trinità, Florence. Purchased from Berlin.

Acquired in exchange from the Berlin Museum in 1888 for £20 (400 marks)

The tomb for Benozzo Federighi, Bishop of Fiesole (d. 1450), was commissioned for the north wall of the transept beside the Federighi chapel in the church of S. Pancrazio, where it was set high in the wall. It was moved to near the side door, then removed to the Federighi chapel of S. Francesco di Paola, and was only set up in its present location in 1896. The main part of the tomb is of marble, while the frieze of flowers around it is of terracotta enamelled in colours over a layer of gold leaf.

Although this cast is monochrome, the original tomb is a combination of white marble and coloured terracotta: the frieze of flowers around the effigy is of terracotta enamelled over a layer of gold leaf. Behind are shown devotional figures of Christ, the Virgin and St John the Evangelist, while the Latin inscription identifies Federighi and his achievements.

REPRO.1888-520