Bust of a man (one of a pair) 16th century

This bust was made around 1500 by the della Robbia workshop in Florence, Italy, out of terracotta. But this isn’t just any terracotta; it’s glazed terracotta, which means that it's been given a ceramic coating, rendering it waterproof and brightly colored. Terracotta sculpture had been around for centuries, but the della Robbia family innovated this technique. While other sculptors of the period were working in marble or bronze, the della Robbias used humbler stuff: clay. The white glaze especially makes the sculpture look like marble, but was far less expensive. This allowed the family to produce art for a wider clientele, like a McDonald's of Renaissance sculpture. This bust, with its classical references in the subject’s coiffure and armor, is therefore a perfect example of how craft and design can democratize the fine arts.