Piazza dell'unità
corner of Via Sant'Antonino
corner of Via Sant'Antonino
THE TABERNACLE
Madonna col Bambino
Inside the niche is housed a blue-glazed terracotta medallion, on which the figures of the Madonna and Child jut out. The Mother is depicted supporting her Son with her right hand, almost drawing him to her: the faces of the two figures are brought close together, in the act of tenderness typical of the relationship between mother and child. The Virgin, whose garment is barely covered by the veil, shows her forearm covered by her sleeve: her pose, and that of the infant Jesus, are similar to that of the composition housed in the tabernacle on Via della Scala.
Tabernacle
The pietra serena aedicula, with a base resting on two small quadrangular brackets (under which sprouts a "drip" with scrolls), from which rise two pilasters finely decorated at the top with plant pendants, is concluded by a broken tympanum, between whose frames is inserted a disk with a radiant sun and the trigram of the name of Jesus (the letters I, H, S, which are the acrostics of Iesus Hominum Salvator).
THE STREET
Piazza dell'Unità
The square opens on the north side of the church of Santa Maria Novella, formerly called Santa Maria delle Vigne. It was originally called Piazza Vecchia di Santa Maria Novella. However, when the "new" Piazza Santa Maria Novella was opened and the church became a large basilica, taking on its current name, it was renamed Piazza dell'Unità to distinguish it.
AUTHOR
Andrea Della Robbia
(Florence 1435 - 1525) Andrea della Robbia's artistic output was vast. The distinctive feature of his works is the blue-white bichromy. His artifacts are widespread in churches and palaces in central and southern Italy, especially in Tuscany and Umbria. The typical features of his sacred figures were very successful.
The sculptor
(Florence 1435 - 1525) Luca della Robbia's nephew, or rather son of his brother Marco, was, just like him, specialized in the technique of polychrome glazed pottery invented by his uncle. He brought the art of glazed terracotta to great popularity, soon becoming the head of the workshop he inherited from his uncle Luca.
Tibdit
Engraved in the marble base under the robbiano medallion there are the coats of arms of the Cerretani and Capponi families and the inscription "ANNO DOMINI MDCCLXXV." Guarnieri claims that it refers to the marriage between Cassandra Cerretani and Alessandro Maria Capponi, which took place in 1749 (MDCCL), so the tabernacle must have been realized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary (XXV) of their wedding.
GALLERY
Tabernacle
Piazza dell'Unità corner of Via Sant'Antonino
Detail: Madonna col Bambino
Piazza dell'Unità corner of Via Sant'Antonino
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