Altarpiece the assumption of the virgin

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This altarpiece, crafted from tin-glazed terracotta, vividly portrays the Assumption of the Virgin, a captivating theme that dominated 15th and 16th century Tuscan art. It is attributed to the skilled artisans working in Andrea della Robbia's workshop. The design showcases a modified version of an elaborate altarpiece created by Andrea della Robbia for La Verna's church. This work was likely commissioned by the Canigiani family, as it is believed to have originated from their villa in Tuscany. The Della Robbia family, renowned sculptors and potters, thrived in Florence from the early 15th century, with a presence also felt in Italy and France well into the 16th. Traditionally, family members were employed in the textile industry, and their name originates from rubia tinctorum, a red dye. Luca della Robbia, the founder of the family's sculpture workshop in Florence, was hailed by contemporaries as a pioneering artistic innovator, on par with Donatello and Masaccio. His innovative fusion of antique art and lively charm is evident in iconic works like the marble singing-gallery for Florence Cathedral. Luca della Robbia's nephew, Andrea della Robbia, who inherited the workshop, opted for more intricate compositions and vibrant polychrome glazing instead of his uncle's simple blue-and-white schemes. Trained as a skilled marble sculptor in Luca's studio, Andrea della Robbia also developed exceptional modelling skills, unmatched in his ability to bring glazed clay figures to life. His most celebrated works include 10 roundels of infants adorning the façade of Florence's Foundling Hospital (circa 1487).