Ceramics

By MARY MARGARET SIMS

Luca della Robbia was an Italian sculptor from Florence. He was born in 1399 and died in 1482. He is remembered mostly for his tin-glaze technique that he passed down for many generations. He not only sculpted out of stone but also used a clay called terracotta. Terracotta means “baked earth” and it is a type of earthenware that is used to make durable and sustainable pieces. 

His most famous terracotta sculpture is Christ and Thomas. He was commissioned by a political party named Guelphs. It depicts Thomas doubting the resurrection of Christ. The sculpture carries a lot of feelings of sorrow and doubt. The Guelphs were not pleased with this piece because the glaze was from a different sculpture in the city.