Bust of Christ 

Andrea del Verrocchio created this Bust of Christ out of painted terracotta in the 15th century. Working with terracotta is an exercise in materiality. You start with raw clay, and you build it up, piece by piece, until the form is complete. The addition of paint brings this sculpture even further into the realm of the senses. Look closely, and you can see Verrocchio’s fingerprints preserved in the clay, traces of the touch that shaped this figure centuries ago. Terracotta, a relatively inexpensive material, allowed for broader access to devotional images. Verrocchio's deep understanding of form and surface imbues the figure with a sense of profound humanity. This busts invites a more personal engagement with the divine, reflecting a shift towards individualized faith during the Renaissance. Ultimately, the Bust of Christ reminds us that art is not just about representation, but about the act of making and the human connection it fosters.