Cherub's head (one of a pair)
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Winged cherubs appear frequently in the works of Andrea della Robbia, both within central compositions and surrounding them as elements of architectural settings. The egg-and-dart border on these reliefs indicates they were once part of an architectural frame. Yet each cherub’s face is sensitively modeled and individualized to convey expressive emotion that would have related to the devotional scene they adorned. The soft white glazing imbues their fleeting expressions with dreamy serenity.
Artwork Details
- Title: Cherub's head (one of a pair)
- Maker: Andrea della Robbia (Italian, 1435–1525) , and Workshop
- Date: ca. 1500
- Culture: Italian, Florence
- Medium: Glazed terracotta
- Dimensions: 19 3/16 × 15 3/16 in. (48.7 × 38.6 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Private Collection
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Content Notice
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.