Bust of a Child

myminifactory

This plaster cast was crafted after the original in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello) in Florence created by Andrea della Robbia in the 15th century. Messrs Franchi & Son in London produced the cast around 1867. During the 19th century, plaster casts were highly sought after because reproductions of major works of sculpture and architecture were seen as essential for training artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be copied, and a plaster mould was created from that. The mould was then used to make multiple additional plaster copies. Artists produced numerous marble and terracotta works in the 15th century, with their sculptures of children being extremely popular in Victorian England. This bust may depict the youthful Christ and could have once had a pendant figure of the young St John the Baptist similar to the companion figure of a child. Plaster cast of a glazed terracotta bust of a child attributed to Andrea della Robbia from the second half of the 15th century, housed in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello) in Florence, and cast by Messrs Franchi & Son in London around 1867. Gallery location: Cast Courts, Room 46b, The Weston Cast Court, case FS, shelf NCourtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.