Andrea Della Robbia,Saint Michael the Archangel ca.1474,glazed Terracotta
The Archangel holds a sword signifying his leadership of the holy army and defeat of Satan,and scales,used to weigh the souls of the deceased to determine their fate.The artist's rendering of four faces (including that of the blessed soul and two masks decorating the armor) crescendos to Michael's peaceful countenance radiating compassion.A restrained palette of blue and white highlights the refined modeling and was favored especially by Andrea's uncle,Lucia della Robbia,who invented this technique of glazed earthenware.This relief was made to decorate the facade of a church in Faenza consecrated to Saint Michael.The divine figures appeal to the viewer,who would've passed beneath it to enter the place of worship,is enhanced by its extension in front of the classical egg-and-dart molding.
Andrea Della Robbia,Saint Michael the Archangel ca.1474,glazed Terracotta
The Archangel holds a sword signifying his leadership of the holy army and defeat of Satan,and scales,used to weigh the souls of the deceased to determine their fate.The artist's rendering of four faces (including that of the blessed soul and two masks decorating the armor) crescendos to Michael's peaceful countenance radiating compassion.A restrained palette of blue and white highlights the refined modeling and was favored especially by Andrea's uncle,Lucia della Robbia,who invented this technique of glazed earthenware.This relief was made to decorate the facade of a church in Faenza consecrated to Saint Michael.The divine figures appeal to the viewer,who would've passed beneath it to enter the place of worship,is enhanced by its extension in front of the classical egg-and-dart molding.