Updated:
October 8, 2006
his
circular plaque is an example
of a style of painted clay
sculpture developed by the della
Robbia family in Florence, Italy. Several
generations of the family in
the 15th and 16th centuries,
beginning with Luca della Robbia,
perfected the use of a glaze
over clay or terra cotta. A
common characteristic of the
della Robbia sculptures was
the use of blue and white.
This
family of artists was also
well-known for depicting fruit,
including oranges and lemons,
apples, nuts, foliage, and
flowers in their artwork. In
the 20th century it became a
tradition at Christmas to make
wreaths in the style of the
original della Robbia sculpture. Instead
of using clay and painted glaze,
fresh evergreen foliage and
fruits are used.
Combined
on this plaque is the blue and
white with the fruits and foliage.
It is one of several plaques in
the Mission Inn collections made
in the della Robbia style. We
believe this plaque is a copy
or reproduction made much later. |
