Bust of a Child

myminifactory

This sculpture might be a depiction of the young St John the Baptist, possibly accompanied by a pendant figure of the youthful Christ. The della Robbia family were celebrated for their creations in glazed terracotta, with their sculptures of children being highly praised in Victorian England. During the 19th century, plaster casts became extremely sought after as reproductions of notable works of sculpture and architecture were deemed essential for artist training. A separating agent was applied to the work's surface, and a plaster mould was created from that. This mould was then used to produce numerous additional plaster copies. These replicas were frequently sold to artists, later becoming a valuable resource for art colleges in the study process. Gallery Location: The Cast Courts, Room 46b, The Weston Cast Court, case FS, shelf N Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London