Andrea Riccio: Renaissance Master of Bronze
October 15, 2008 through January 18, 2009
Exhibition Checklist
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Virgin and Child
c. 1520–25
Terracotta with traces of polychromy
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Cat. No. 35 |
The terracotta Virgin and Child was once a full-length,
polychromed statue. Then as now, the Virgin’s gaze and the
Child’s gestures project beyond the sculpture’s setting to
engage the viewer. Riccio characteristically rendered these
Christian subjects in a classicizing idiom. The ageless Virgin
wears the elaborate coiffure and diadem of a Roman goddess,
and the Christ Child wears the draped robes of an ancient
philosopher. Riccio vividly articulates every detail, from the
voluminous folds of the Virgin’s drapery to the minute ring
pattern on her headband. Brilliant modeling in large and
small scale made Riccio a celebrated master of both
terracotta and bronze.
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Head of the Madonna
1520–25
Polychrome terracotta
Musei Civici, Museo d’Arte Medioevale e Moderna, Padua
Cat. No. 34 |
This beautiful head is all that remains of a full-scale sculpture
of the Madonna and Child, once in the parish church of
Legnaro. The Madonna’s skin, lips, and hair retain traces
of original polychromy. Riccio’s modeling process is
superbly displayed. On the back, he cursorily defines the
forms, like the Madonna’s bun, clumping the clay with his
hand and then coarsely outlining the locks of hair. On the
front, smaller but similarly curt strokes refine the broad
forms. He carves out grooves leaving in relief foliate swags,
ribbed shells, and an eyelet tiara. Riccio, master modeler,
employed the identical swift and assured touch when
designing in wax for his bronzes. Return to first page of checklist >>>
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