Luca della Robbia (1399 - 1482)

 

 

This lecture turns to the intersection of art and industry, exploring the Della Robbia family and their invention of glazed terracotta—a technological breakthrough that brought unprecedented colour and durability to sculpture. We will examine how Luca della Robbia’s proprietary technique of coating clay in tin-based glazes transformed the medium, creating the iconic white-on-blue aesthetic that became synonymous with Florentine piety. Crucially, we will discuss the "domestication" of the sculptural object, looking at how this versatile, cost-effective medium allowed the market to expand from grand ecclesiastical commissions to private citizens. By analysing the proliferation of devotional reliefs and heraldic roundels within the Florentine palace , we will reveal how the Della Robbia workshop successfully commercialised beauty, embedding their art into the daily rhythm of domestic life.

 

Full Enrolment Single Lecture Join Online
400 FEB 2026 TUE 17 FEB 15:00-16:30 CET
400 JUN 2026 TUE 16 JUN 15:00-16:30 CET
400 OCT 2026 TUE 20 OCT 15:00-16:30 CET

 

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