Frieze with Garlands and Candelabra
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Authors
Andrea della Robbia, Workshop of
Date
Type
image
Language
Keyword
Frieze , Garlands , Candelabra , Putti
Alternative Title
Abstract
This frieze, along with four glazed terracotta roundels of the Evangelists, were created by Andrea della Robbia (and his workshop) for Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato, which was designed by Giuliano da Sangallo at the behest of Lorenzo de' Medici. The frieze, along with the arms of Prato, is full of classical motifs (swags of fruit, all'antica candelabra, putti, etc.), as is appropriate for this imposing classicizing building. The use of glazed terracotta here, the white forms sillhouetted against a blue ground, allows for the forms to be read from far below and is appropriate, as terracotta was a classical medium, discussed in Pliny. Artists and patrons (including Lorenzo) were also familiar with such two-colour compositions from the classical cameos that were so prized in the period. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Description
Santa Maria delle Carceri, Prato
Citation
Giancarlo Gentilini, I Della Robbia (Florence: Cantini, 1992), I: 215-16, 228-9.