The Virgin with the dead Christ
Relief
second half 15th century (made)
second half 15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This relief is evidently one of the panels of the predella of a large altar-piece.
It is made by Giovanni della Robbia and is of enamelled terracotta.
The Della Robbia family was an Italian family of sculptors and potters. They were active in Florence from the early 15th century and elsewhere in Italy and France well into the 16th. Family members were traditionally employed in the textile industry, and their name derives from rubia tinctorum, a red dye.
Luca della Robbia founded the family sculpture workshop in Florence and was regarded by contemporaries as a leading artistic innovator, comparable to Donatello and Masaccio. The influence of antique art and his characteristic liveliness and charm are evident in such works as the marble singing-gallery for Florence Cathedral. He is credited with the invention of the tin-glazed terracotta sculpture for which the family became well known. Andrea was the Nephew of Luca della Robbia, who founded the workshop and invented the technique of enamelled terracotta.
Giovanni della Robbia (1469 - ca. 1529) was one of three of the sons of Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) to enter his father's workshop. He received his own commissions from 1497 and increasingly took over the running of the workshop
He was heir to the famous workshop in Florence and had the task of renewing its famous production to accord with changing tastes as directed by contemporary painting.
It is made by Giovanni della Robbia and is of enamelled terracotta.
The Della Robbia family was an Italian family of sculptors and potters. They were active in Florence from the early 15th century and elsewhere in Italy and France well into the 16th. Family members were traditionally employed in the textile industry, and their name derives from rubia tinctorum, a red dye.
Luca della Robbia founded the family sculpture workshop in Florence and was regarded by contemporaries as a leading artistic innovator, comparable to Donatello and Masaccio. The influence of antique art and his characteristic liveliness and charm are evident in such works as the marble singing-gallery for Florence Cathedral. He is credited with the invention of the tin-glazed terracotta sculpture for which the family became well known. Andrea was the Nephew of Luca della Robbia, who founded the workshop and invented the technique of enamelled terracotta.
Giovanni della Robbia (1469 - ca. 1529) was one of three of the sons of Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) to enter his father's workshop. He received his own commissions from 1497 and increasingly took over the running of the workshop
He was heir to the famous workshop in Florence and had the task of renewing its famous production to accord with changing tastes as directed by contemporary painting.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Enamelled terracotta in relief |
| Brief description | Relief, enamelled terracotta, the Lamentation over the dead Christ, by Giovanni della Robbia, Italy, second half of 15th century |
| Physical description | The Virgin is holding the dead Christ between St. Mary Magdalene and St. John. Relief in blue and white enamelled terracotta. The Virgin seated with clasped hands; on her knees lies the dead Christ, his head held by St. John and his knees by St. Mary Magdalene, both kneeling. Above are two half-length figures of adoring angels in lower relief. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This is evidently one of the panels of the predella of a large altar-piece. Acquired in London. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This relief is evidently one of the panels of the predella of a large altar-piece. It is made by Giovanni della Robbia and is of enamelled terracotta. The Della Robbia family was an Italian family of sculptors and potters. They were active in Florence from the early 15th century and elsewhere in Italy and France well into the 16th. Family members were traditionally employed in the textile industry, and their name derives from rubia tinctorum, a red dye. Luca della Robbia founded the family sculpture workshop in Florence and was regarded by contemporaries as a leading artistic innovator, comparable to Donatello and Masaccio. The influence of antique art and his characteristic liveliness and charm are evident in such works as the marble singing-gallery for Florence Cathedral. He is credited with the invention of the tin-glazed terracotta sculpture for which the family became well known. Andrea was the Nephew of Luca della Robbia, who founded the workshop and invented the technique of enamelled terracotta. Giovanni della Robbia (1469 - ca. 1529) was one of three of the sons of Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) to enter his father's workshop. He received his own commissions from 1497 and increasingly took over the running of the workshop He was heir to the famous workshop in Florence and had the task of renewing its famous production to accord with changing tastes as directed by contemporary painting. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.3-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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