Glazed Terracotta: A Renaissance Art in the Heart of Pistoia
Glazed terracotta is an ancient artistic technique dating back to the Middle Ages. It involves applying a special glaze that, once fired, gives the surface a shiny, compact, and durable finish.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the Della Robbia family brought this technique into the realm of sculpture, turning it into the hallmark of their artistic production. In Renaissance Florence, they developed a flourishing workshop and left extraordinary works across Italy — especially in Pistoia.
Three masterpieces of polychrome glazed terracotta can still be admired in Pistoia today:
At the Spedale del Ceppo, the exterior loggia is decorated with a famous frieze representing the Seven Works of Mercy, created by Santi Buglioni, Filippo Paladini, and other artists of the time. Within the frieze are medallions signed by the Della Robbia family, depicting coats of arms and sacred scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
In the Church of San Giovanni Fuorcivitas, one of the most beloved works stands out: The Visitation by Luca Della Robbia. The scene of the Virgin Mary embracing Elizabeth is rendered with extraordinary emotional delicacy. It is considered one of the earliest examples of glazed terracotta sculpture and marks the beginning of the family’s artistic success.
Above the portal of San Zeno Cathedral, visitors can admire The Madonna and Child with Angels by Andrea Della Robbia. This blue-and-white lunette gracefully blends the iconography of the Coronation of the Virgin with that of the Madonna and Child, offering one of the finest examples of Robbian art.
These works, scattered throughout the historic center, highlight Pistoia’s importance as a city of art and guardian of a unique heritage in the landscape of Tuscan Renaissance sculpture. Visiting them is like walking a path that connects art, faith, and technical innovation.