Robbia

Robbia, family of Italian Renaissance artists, known especially for their sculpture and ceramics. They were active in Florence for nearly 150 years.

(c. 1400-1482), originated a style of glazed terracotta bas-reliefs, usually with white figures on a blue ground. He was born in Florence and lived all his life there. His delicate reliefs were mostly of religious subjects; those of the Madonna are especially notable. Luca initially worked in white and blue but later added glazes of many colours, especially green and yellow on a wreath of fruits and flowers around the figures. His terracottas were individual pieces of art, built into walls to serve in architectural contexts.

Between 1431 and 1438 Luca designed and executed for Florence Cathedral the famous Singing Gallery, ten marble panels in high relief, with groups of children singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. Another great work by Luca was a bronze door (1464-1469), with ten panels of figures in relief, for the sacristy of the cathedral. In 1457-1458 he also sculpted the marble tomb of Federighi, Bishop of Fiesole. Luca founded a family workshop, which continued to make fine terracotta reliefs into the 16th century.

(1435-1525), Luca's nephew, the most important of his successors. Trained by his uncle in both marble and ceramics, Andrea specialized in the creation of narrative sculpture. His best-known work is the Foundling Children (1463-1466), ten tondos, or sculptures of circular shape, depicting swaddled infants, on the façade of the foundling hospital, the Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence.

Andrea's two sons, Giovanni della Robbia (c. 1469-c. 1529) and Girolamo della Robbia (1488-1566), also became skilled terracotta sculptors; however, their work was inferior to that of their father and uncle. Girolamo was an architect and sculptor; he moved to France and worked for many years near Paris.