Bust of a Roman matron (one of a pair)

Andrea della Robbia was a Florentine sculptor who pioneered the use of glazed terracotta as a medium for large-scale architectural and devotional works. Working primarily in the 15th and early 16th centuries, he refined the technique of tin-glazed earthenware developed by his uncle Luca della Robbia, creating brilliantly colored reliefs for churches, convents, and civic spaces throughout Florence and beyond. His glazed terracotta Madonna and Child panels, framed in decorative garlands, became signature works that combined the durability of ceramic with the formal sophistication of marble sculpture. The distinctive blue, white, and green palette of his pieces established a visual language that defined Florentine Renaissance production for generations.

Florence, Italy