DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61670#0206
CHAPTER VII
IMPRUNETA
Few works of Luca della Robbia offer greater difficulties as to
dating than the decorations of the two chapels in the Collegiata
of Impruneta. These fine enamelled terra-cottas were first
brought into notice by Professor Marquand.1 They were, it is
true, mentioned as long ago as the end of the last century by a
local writer,2 and Signor Carocci, in his “ Dintorni di Firenze,”
alludes to them as “stufende terra-cotte di Luca della Robbia” 3
but it remained for Professor Marquand to give them their due
place among his most important and beautiful enamelled works.
The sculptures present other difficulties besides those of dating,
for it is evident from the different character of some parts that
Andrea had a very important share in the execution.
The small village of Impruneta (a corruption of La Pineta)
lies about six miles south of Florence, at the foot of a hill
crowned with the stone-pines from which it takes its name. It
is celebrated for the possession of a miraculous image of the
Virgin, which in time of plague was carried in procession to
Florence, and in whose powers it is said Savonarola placed
implicit faith ; and it was this sacred image that one of the
chapels decorated by Luca was built to enshrine. Opposite
to it is a similar chapel, also decorated by Luca, now called
the Chapel of the Holy Cross from the relic it encloses, but
originally, as we shall see, intended for the reception of the
1 “ Some Unpublished Monuments by Luca della Robbia ” ^American
Journal of Archeology, vol. viii., p. 161).
2 Giov. Battista Casotti, “ Memorie istoriche della Miracolosa Immagine di
Maria Vergine dell’ Impruneta,” published 1714.
3 Carocci, “Dintorni di Firenze.” Firenze, 1881, p. 225.
108
IMPRUNETA
Few works of Luca della Robbia offer greater difficulties as to
dating than the decorations of the two chapels in the Collegiata
of Impruneta. These fine enamelled terra-cottas were first
brought into notice by Professor Marquand.1 They were, it is
true, mentioned as long ago as the end of the last century by a
local writer,2 and Signor Carocci, in his “ Dintorni di Firenze,”
alludes to them as “stufende terra-cotte di Luca della Robbia” 3
but it remained for Professor Marquand to give them their due
place among his most important and beautiful enamelled works.
The sculptures present other difficulties besides those of dating,
for it is evident from the different character of some parts that
Andrea had a very important share in the execution.
The small village of Impruneta (a corruption of La Pineta)
lies about six miles south of Florence, at the foot of a hill
crowned with the stone-pines from which it takes its name. It
is celebrated for the possession of a miraculous image of the
Virgin, which in time of plague was carried in procession to
Florence, and in whose powers it is said Savonarola placed
implicit faith ; and it was this sacred image that one of the
chapels decorated by Luca was built to enshrine. Opposite
to it is a similar chapel, also decorated by Luca, now called
the Chapel of the Holy Cross from the relic it encloses, but
originally, as we shall see, intended for the reception of the
1 “ Some Unpublished Monuments by Luca della Robbia ” ^American
Journal of Archeology, vol. viii., p. 161).
2 Giov. Battista Casotti, “ Memorie istoriche della Miracolosa Immagine di
Maria Vergine dell’ Impruneta,” published 1714.
3 Carocci, “Dintorni di Firenze.” Firenze, 1881, p. 225.
108