id:			170811
accession number:	2013.31
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2013.31
updated:		2022-09-22 11:00:54.925000

Bust of a Classical Hero or Emperor, early to mid 16th century. Girolamo della Robbia (Italian, 1488–1566). Glazed terracotta; overall: 37.5 x 37.5 x 21 cm (14 3/4 x 14 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 2013.31

title:				Bust of a Classical Hero or Emperor
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			early to mid 16th century
creation date earliest:		1500
creation date latest:		1550
current location:		117A Italian Renaissance
creditline:			John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Italy, 16th century
technique:	glazed terracotta
department:	European Painting and Sculpture
collection:	Sculpture
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

* Girolamo della Robbia (Italian, 1488–1566)  - artist

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measurements: Overall: 37.5 x 37.5 x 21 cm (14 3/4 x 14 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Della Robbia Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence
	opening date:   2016-08-09T00:00:00
	<i>Della Robbia Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence</i>. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, MA (organizer) (August 9-December 4, 2016); National Gallery of Art, Landover, MD (February 5-June 4, 2017).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (8/9/2016 – 12/4/2016) and National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (2/5/2017 – 6/4/2017):  "Della Robbia Sculptures in American Collections" cat. no. 53, p. 82-83.

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PROVENANCE

	Giovanni and Gabriella Barilla, Geneva, from an unknown date. Sold at Sotheby's London 14 March 2012 (lot 6) as "Workshop of Girolamo della Robbia"; Andrew Butterfield Fine Art; Cleveland Museum of Art
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 
Head-and-shoulders portraits, known as busts, were popular from Roman times.

digital description: 
This bust most likely represents an emperor or condottiere from classical antiquity, and probably formed part of a series of classical heads. Such groups of worthies were featured as decorative schemes in the <em>studioli</em> and architectural projects of Renaissance statesmen. Attesting to the sophistication of their learned patrons, these busts also provided the opportunity for artists to explore the contemporary stylistic relevance of classical portraiture—a source of fascination and inspiration for Florentine sculptors of this period.

wall description: 

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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	Cambareri, Marietta, Abigail Hykin, and Courtney Leigh Harris. Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence. 2016. catalogue no. 53
	page number: 	82-83
	url:		

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.31/2013.31_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.31/2013.31_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.31/2013.31_full.tif