A GLAZED TERRACOTTA TONDO OF THE HOLY MONOGRAM

Details

A GLAZED TERRACOTTA TONDO OF THE HOLY MONOGRAM
FROM THE DELLA ROBBIA WORKSHOP, ITALIAN, EARLY 16TH CENTURY

Within a burst of rays, and set into a fruit and pinecone surround-24¾in. (63cm.) diameter

Provenance

Stefano Bardini; American Art Galleries, New York, April 25, 1918, lot 364 (as Luca della Robbia)
William Boyce Thompson, Yonkers, New York

Literature

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
A. Marquand, Benedetto and Santi Buglioni, The Brothers of Giovanni Della Robbia, New York, p. 14, fig. 7

Lot Essay

The monogram of Christ is frequently used as a symbol of St. Bernardino. The first letter is usually rendered as a Y to indicate its Greek origin and the second is modified to suggest a cross. This monogram occurs frequently in Della Robbia works and is surrounded by a yellow rays, alternately wavy and straight, according to Giovanni della Robbia's practice.