A Brilliant Terra Cotta Resurrection Scene
It is a form of art so familiar to us that it almost looks common. Indeed, it’s been imitated so often by lesser artists that we could mistake the masterpiece for a piece of street art if we are not careful.
This masterpiece called, simply, the Resurrection of Christ, is by the Renaissance artist Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525), who is one of three della Robbia generations to create and propagate the art of glazed terra cotta sculptures that we know so well today.
The term “sculpture” includes free-standing, three-dimensional sculptures as well as bas reliefs (figures emerging from a flat surface), altar pieces, medallions, and friezes over doors and mantles. The della Robbias crafted them all.
Andrea was the nephew of Luca della Robbia who pioneered the technique: he scooped clay from the banks of the Arno River in Florence, sculpted it, fired it in a kiln, covered it with lustrous white (or sometimes multi-colored) ceramic glaze, and gave it a sky-blue background.
Andrea expanded his uncle’s technique both in size and scope. From Luca’s small, elegant sculptures, Andrea expanded to larger images of the same, even more refined, and received commissions for large churches and public buildings.
Andrea died at age 90 and left the business to his son, Giovanni, who continued the tradition.
The elegant simplicity of the della Robbia glazed terra cotta art left a lasting impression on Western art and gave the della Robbia family a place in art history.
As they say: often imitated, never surpassed.
Here are a few other della Robbia masterpieces for your Easter enjoyment.
A blessed Easter Sunday to all Sacred Windows readers!
Images in Public Domain. Sources: (Resurrection) Mongolo1984 via Wikimedia; (Bust of boy) Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence”, Boston University; (Annunciation and Madonna) Italian Art Society, Anne Leader.
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Make sure to see the two other Easter Triduum Sacred Windows pieces (click titles):
Good Friday Reflection
Holy Saturday Reflection
