Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist in Tondo c. 1520

This glazed terracotta "tondo", or round relief, titled "Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist", was likely created by Fra Mattia (Marco Giovanni della Robbia) around 1520. The work depicts a scene of the Nativity with Mary kneeling and gazing upon the newborn Christ, while St. John the Baptist kneels in prayer at the foot of a rocky hill, looking towards the infant. The image is framed by a lush, three-dimensional border of fruit and foliage, a hallmark of Della Robbia-style ceramics. The vivid and vibrant colors and the realistic portrayal of the figures were common characteristics of Fra Mattia's work.