Analysis of Virgin and Child with Lilies by Luca Della Robbia
Yun Zhang
Renaissance Art in Context
Dec.13th. 2012
FA231 Professor Stephanie Leone
Virgin and child with lilies
Italian (Florence) about 1460–70
Luca della Robbia
Overall: 48 x 38cm (18 7/8 x 14 15/16in.)
Glazed terracotta
Classification: Sculpture
Type: Relief
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Virgin and child with lilies
Italian (Florence) about 1460–70
Luca della Robbia
Overall: 48 x 38cm (18 7/8 x 14 15/16in.)
Glazed terracotta
Classification: Sculpture
Type: Relief
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
In this artwork attributed to Luca della Robbia made in 1460-70, Virgin and Child with lilies depicts Mary as the mother of God, instead of the queen in heaven, and emphasized the maternal side of Virgin and the human nature side of Christ. As one of the most popular devotional subject, it conveys the purity and virgin statues of Mary through symbolic pattern such as lilies and a suggestion of Virgin Mary’s perpetual virginity through the annunciation angels, which Virgin Mary born Christ the child without sin, to present the holy spirit of Virgin Mary and, therefore, evoke devotions to Virgin Mary. In addition, when comparing to Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna in the Ognissanti Church in Florence, this relief shows us a shift towards naturalism in its depicting of Virgin and child, as well as presenting of space and colors, which fits into Vasari’s description of an naturalism art development trend. Finally, due to the size of the artwork, I suggest this piece of work was for domestic use, instead of for public devotion in churches. I also suggest it might was made to hang exteriorly on the wall near a garden due to its durable characteristic of terracotta and the subject depicted as Virgin and Child in nature.
First to start with, art always mattered in the Renaissance. Viewers expected the subject to be meaningful, purposeful and functional, not just for pure aesthetic pleasure. In the textbook, we see a
Renaissance Art in Context
Dec.13th. 2012
FA231 Professor Stephanie Leone
Virgin and child with lilies
Italian (Florence) about 1460–70
Luca della Robbia
Overall: 48 x 38cm (18 7/8 x 14 15/16in.)
Glazed terracotta
Classification: Sculpture
Type: Relief
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Virgin and child with lilies
Italian (Florence) about 1460–70
Luca della Robbia
Overall: 48 x 38cm (18 7/8 x 14 15/16in.)
Glazed terracotta
Classification: Sculpture
Type: Relief
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
In this artwork attributed to Luca della Robbia made in 1460-70, Virgin and Child with lilies depicts Mary as the mother of God, instead of the queen in heaven, and emphasized the maternal side of Virgin and the human nature side of Christ. As one of the most popular devotional subject, it conveys the purity and virgin statues of Mary through symbolic pattern such as lilies and a suggestion of Virgin Mary’s perpetual virginity through the annunciation angels, which Virgin Mary born Christ the child without sin, to present the holy spirit of Virgin Mary and, therefore, evoke devotions to Virgin Mary. In addition, when comparing to Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna in the Ognissanti Church in Florence, this relief shows us a shift towards naturalism in its depicting of Virgin and child, as well as presenting of space and colors, which fits into Vasari’s description of an naturalism art development trend. Finally, due to the size of the artwork, I suggest this piece of work was for domestic use, instead of for public devotion in churches. I also suggest it might was made to hang exteriorly on the wall near a garden due to its durable characteristic of terracotta and the subject depicted as Virgin and Child in nature.
First to start with, art always mattered in the Renaissance. Viewers expected the subject to be meaningful, purposeful and functional, not just for pure aesthetic pleasure. In the textbook, we see a