Attributed to Giovanni della Robbia
Italian, 1469 - 1529Figure of an Angel, n.d.
On view
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions26 × 9 × 9 in. (66 × 22.9 × 22.9 cm)
Gift of Mrs. Viola E. Bray, 2005.153
This figure of an angel has been attributed to Giovanni della Robbia, a grandnephew of Luca della Robbia, the Florentine sculptor credited with the invention of applying tin glazes to terracotta to create a dazzling white surface. The objects created in the della Robbia workshop using this technique—including church furnishings, altarpieces, family shields, floor and ceiling tiles, and private devotional sculptures—were in high demand throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. Their popularity can be attributed to the beauty and durability of the technique, costing much less than marble, stone, or bronze sculpture.
