Madonna and Child 1500 - 1515

This glazed terracotta relief sculpture of the Madonna and Child was created by Andrea della Robbia in Florence, Italy, during the Renaissance. The della Robbia family workshop was famous for its distinctive style, which brought Renaissance ideals into domestic settings. The purity of Mary and innocence of the infant Christ are enhanced through the use of a clean white glaze. But, the choice of terracotta as the sculptural medium also held social significance. It was cheaper and easier to produce than marble. This made such images of devotion more accessible to a wider range of people. The historical context is essential to understanding the meaning of this work. Religious art in Renaissance Florence was not just about personal piety. It was deeply intertwined with social identity, patronage, and civic life. Family workshops like the della Robbia’s democratized these images to a certain extent. To delve deeper, scholars consult family business records, guild documents, and religious texts to understand how the changing role of art played out in society.