Andrea della Robbia (workshop of)
Italian, 1435­1525
Adoration of the Christ Child
c. 1525
Glazed terracotta
66.9 x 44.4 cm
Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection, 1937.914

The della Robbia family of Florence became famous for its colored, glazed sculptures. This relief was made to decorate the wall of a palace in Pisa, Italy. It shows the Virgin Mary kneeling with her hands in prayer, looking down on the infant Christ. They are surrounded by six cherubs. The della Robbias made most of their ceramic wall reliefs in blue and white. What do you think the blue color might represent? Where is the dove?