Glazed terracottas in La Verna Sanctuary
by Andrea della Robbia

The La Verna Sanctuary is located on an isolated mountain in the centre of the Tuscan Appenines, rising about 1200 m above the valley of the Casentino. It sits on the site where it's believed that Saint Francis received the stigmata. The monastic complex includes Santa Maria degli Angeli, a small church founded by St Francis in 1218, and the Chiesa Maggiore (Upper Church), which was begun in 1348, but not finished until 1459. The Chapel of the Stigmata was erected in the 1263 near the spot where the miracle took place.

Andrea della Robbia's glazed terracottas at La Verna form an important part of his oeuvre. His work at La Verna began with the Annunciation (c. 1475) and the Nativity (1479) on the altars of the two chapels in the form of aediculae in the Chiesa Maggiore. It continued in the Chapel of the Stigmata with the Crucifixion (c. 1480), and in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli with the Madonna della Cintola (c. 1486). It was brought to a conclusion with the Ascension (c. 1490) in the Ridolfi Chapel.

Pupils and assistants were involved in the work at La Verna, among them Francesco della Robbia, Benedetto and Santi Buglioni.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Annunciation
c. 1475
Glazed terracotta, 210 x 210 cm
Chiesa Maggiore, La Verna

1132*1100
True Color
203 Kb



Annunciation
c. 1475
Glazed terracotta, 210 x 214 cm
Santuario della Verna, Chiusi

1100*828
True Color
144 Kb



Annunciation (detail)
c. 1475
Glazed terracotta
Chiesa Maggiore, La Verna

943*1300
True Color
197 Kb



Nativity
1479
Glazed terracotta, 240 x 180 cm
Chiesa Maggiore, La Verna

1049*1300
True Color
198 Kb



Alessandri Crucifixion
1480-81
Glazed terracotta, 600 x 420 cm
Chiesa Maggiore, La Verna

751*1050
True Color
194 Kb



Madonna della Cintola
c. 1486
Glazed terracotta, 388 x 236 cm
Santa Maria degli Angeli, La Verna

816*1300
True Color
205 Kb



Ascension
c. 1490
Glazed terracotta, 457 x 308 cm
Chiesa Maggiore, La Verna

700*1064
True Color
209 Kb




Works by Andrea della Robbia
Glazed terracottas in La Verna Sanctuary
Miscellaneous terracottas