Andrea della Robbia

Andrea della Robbia (October 24, 1435 – August 4, 1525) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. He was the son of Marco della Robbia. Andrea della Robbia's uncle, Luca della Robbia, popularized the use of glazed terra-cotta for sculpture. "The medium gained great popularity in fifteenth-century Florence and became a specialty of the della Robbia family studio, which was directed by Andrea after Luca, his uncle, died. Altarpieces made of glazed terra-cotta were more colorful, less expensive, and easier to transport than similar sculptures in marble."^[1]

Born in Florence, he was the most important artist of ceramic glaze of the times. His workshop was carried on by his son Giovanni after his death.

His works included:^[2]

• The medallions of infants for the Foundling hospital, Florence, and the Annunciation over the inner entrance
• the Meeting of S. Francis and S. Dominic in the loggia of S. Paolo, Florence
• the Virgin adoring the Divine Child in the Crib in the Bargello
• the Resurrection of Christ in the S. Bernardino Basilica in L'Aquila
• the Madonna della Quercia at Viterbo
• the marble high altar of S. Maria delle Grazie at Arezzo
• the decorations of the vaulted ceiling and porch of the old Pistoia Cathedral
• the decorations of Sante Flora e Lucilla in Santa Fiora
• the Crucifixion and the Assumption of the Virgin at La Verna.

References

• Lynn Thorndike (1956). The History of Medieval Europe. University of Michigan. 

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.