The Florentine Andrea della Robbia inherited the workshop of his uncle, Luca della Robbia (died 1482), who had developed the technique of glazed ceramic reliefs for which his family became famous.  His most famous works are the reliefs (1463-6) of babies in tondi on the loggia of the Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence.  He and his workshop also executed a number of reliefs for the Franciscan sanctuary at La Verna in ca. 1475-90.

Andrea perfected the use of polychrome glazes rather than the simple blue-and-white schemes favoured by his uncle. 

Two of Andrea’s sons continued the Florentine workshop for a short period after his death:

1. ✴Giovanni (died 1529); and
   

2. ✴Luca the younger, who moved to France in 1529 and died there in ca. 1548.
   

Assisi

Altar dossal (ca. 1490)

Anastasia Baglioni Sforza, the wife of Braccio III Baglioni, commissioned this glazed terracotta panel from Andrea della Robbia for the chapel that Braccio II Baglioni had built near the Cappella della Portiuncula in 1458.  The panel was moved to Santa Maria degli Angeli when Baglioni's chapel was demolished and was until recently on the altar in the crypt.  It is now in the Museo della Portiuncula:

1. ✴The main scenes of the Assisi dossal depict:
   

2. •the Coronation of the Virgin:
   

3. •the stigmatisation of St Francis (to the left); and
   

4. •the penitent St Jerome (to the right).
   

5. ✴The predella panels depict:
   

6. •the Annunciation;
   

7. •the Nativity; and
   

8. •the Adoration of the Magi.
   

St Francis (ca. 1490)

Città di Castello

Works in the Pinacoteca 

The loggia of the Pinacoteca Comunale contains the following works that are by or attributed to Andrea della Robbia or his workshop. 

Works from San Giovanni Battista (early 16th century)

The following of glazed terracotta reliefs from the Observant Franciscan church and convent of San Giovanni Battista were transferred to the gallery in 1872:

1. 

   ✴This glazed terracotta relief of the Assumption of the Virgin was documented on the high altar in 1829.  An inscription that was recorded on the frame there recorded that it was commissioned by three female heirs of Matteo dei Fucci: Casandra; Aurora and Niccola.  
   

1. ✴T

   

   his relief of the Adoration of the Shepherds was documented in the oratory attached to the church in 1728 and again 1868, when it was on the altar (the 1st on the left) that belonged to a community of Franciscan tertiaries.  
   

1. 

   ✴This tondo relief of the Madonna and Child with angels was documented in the convent in 1728. 
   

Annunciation (early 16th century)

Montefalco

Coronation of the Virgin (early 16th century)

Norcia

Figures of the Annunciation (early 16th century)