Portrait of a Boy

myminifactory

This bust is a plaster cast of the original created in 1475 by Andrea della Robbia, inheriting his uncle Luca della Robia's secret glaze formula for terracotta relief and sculpture. "Bust of a Boy" stands as a masterpiece of the medium, according to Marietta Cambareri, author of MFA Boston's fascinating current exhibition catalogue, Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence. "The fleeting expression and parted lips that convey a sense of living breath give this image an especially vivid quality, thanks to Andrea's masterful modeling and painting. Here, the sculptor conveys movement through the turning head, attentive gaze, and waving hair. The shining white glaze captures a truthful image of a unique little boy without mimicking flesh. Like other contemporary portrayals of children, this work illustrates a new interest in childhood and particularly in capturing its transient qualities."