The Adoration of the Shepherds
Medallion
ca. 1460-1470 (made)
ca. 1460-1470 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This circular relief in polychrome enamelled terracotta is made by Luca della Robbia, in Florence in ca. 1460-1470.
The style and composition relate to Ghiberti's second set of bronze doors for the Baptistery in Florence, the 'Gates of Paradise' (completed 1452), and it therefore probably dates from about 1460-1470. The central scene appears to have been modelled by Luca della Robbia and glazed in the della Robbia workshop. The border is cast not modelled, but is likely to be original.
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.
The style and composition relate to Ghiberti's second set of bronze doors for the Baptistery in Florence, the 'Gates of Paradise' (completed 1452), and it therefore probably dates from about 1460-1470. The central scene appears to have been modelled by Luca della Robbia and glazed in the della Robbia workshop. The border is cast not modelled, but is likely to be original.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Adoration of the Shepherds (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Polychrome enamelled terracotta |
| Brief description | Medallion, relief in polychrome enamelled terracotta, 'The Adoration of the Shepherds', by Luca Della Robbia, Italy (Florence), ca 1460-70. |
| Physical description | 'The Adoration of the Shepherds', circular relief in polychrome enamelled teracotta. The Virgin is seated on the ground beneath the thatched stable roof, holding the swaddled Child. To the right is the seated figure of St. Joseph, resting his head on his right hand. Behind is the manger and the heads of the ox and the ass. In the left foreground two shepherds kneel in adoration. In the background an angel, holding a scroll with inscription, appears to the two shepherds, who are seen for a second time behind a hill. The border is composed of bunches of three white roses alternately single and double, two bunches of single white roses being juxtaposed at the base. Enamelled in white, yellow, green and blue; the eyes and lettering in dark purple-black. The border is cast not modelled, but is likely to be original. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'ANNVMZIO . VOBIS GALDIV .' (Inscription on scroll.) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Bought in Florence from teh Palazzo de' Mozzi, £6. |
| Production | The central scene appears to be modelled by Luca della Robbia and glazed in the della Robbia workshop. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | King James Bible, Luke 2:9 |
| Summary | This circular relief in polychrome enamelled terracotta is made by Luca della Robbia, in Florence in ca. 1460-1470. The style and composition relate to Ghiberti's second set of bronze doors for the Baptistery in Florence, the 'Gates of Paradise' (completed 1452), and it therefore probably dates from about 1460-1470. The central scene appears to have been modelled by Luca della Robbia and glazed in the della Robbia workshop. The border is cast not modelled, but is likely to be original. 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7752-1862 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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