CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 8/1/2016

Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence

Produced in 1475 by Andrea della Robbia, hier to uncle Luca della Robio's secret glaze formula for terra cotta relief and sculpture, "Bust of a Boy" is a masterpiece of the medium, according to Marietta Cambareri, author of MFA Boston's fascinating current exhibition catalogue, Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence. "The fleeting expression and parted lips that convey a sense of living breath give this image an especially vivid quality, thanks to Andrea’s masterful modeling and painting… Here, the sculptor conveys movement through the turning head, attentive gaze, and waving hair. The shining white glaze does not mimic flesh but still captures a truthful image of a unique little boy. Like other contemporary portrayals of children, this work illustrates a new interest in childhood and particularly in capturing its transient qualities."