Ritratto Di Gentildonna 1465

This bust of a young noblewoman was created by Antonio del Pollaiolo in Florence, out of polychrome terracotta. The material itself, terracotta, is quite humble. It's just earthenware clay, but here, it has been worked with tremendous skill, and then painted to resemble a marble sculpture. It's a great example of the Renaissance spirit, where the revival of classical forms met an intense interest in materiality. Consider the labor involved: the clay had to be carefully selected, modeled, fired, and then painted with great attention to detail. This wasn't just a utilitarian object; it was a carefully crafted imitation of a high-status material, made accessible through ingenuity and hard work. The choice of terracotta, carefully painted, speaks to a culture where craft and artistry were deeply intertwined, blurring the lines between what we consider "high art" and skilled making.