Andrea della Robbia was an Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramic

Ceramic

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...

s. He was the son of Marco della Robbia. Andrea della Robbia's uncle, Luca della Robbia

Luca della Robbia

Luca della Robbia was an Italian sculptor from Florence, noted for his terra-cotta roundels.Luca Della Robbia developed a pottery glaze that made his creations more durable in the outdoors and thus suitable for use on the exterior of buildings. His work is noted for its charm rather than the drama...

, popularized the use of glazed terra-cotta for sculpture. "The medium gained great popularity in fifteenth-century Florence and became a specialty of the della Robbia family studio, which was directed by Andrea after Luca, his uncle, died. Altarpieces made of glazed terra-cotta were more colorful, less expensive, and easier to transport than similar sculptures in marble."

Born in Florence

Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....

, he was the most important artist of ceramic glaze

Ceramic glaze

Glaze is a layer or coating of a vitreous substance which has been fired to fuse to a ceramic object to color, decorate, strengthen or waterproof it.-Use:...

 of the times. His workshop was carried on by his son Giovanni

Giovanni della Robbia

thumb|250px|Saint Sebastian, [[Musée du Louvre]], Paris.Giovanni della Robbia was an Italian Renaissance ceramic artist. He was the son of Andrea della Robbia and grandnephew of Luca della Robbia....

 after his death.

His works included:

• The medallions of infants for the Foundling hospital, Florence
  Ospedale degli Innocenti
  The Ospedale degli Innocenti is a historical building in Florence, central Italy. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419, it was originally a children's orphanage. It is regarded as a notable example of early Italian Renaissance architecture...
  
  , and the Annunciation over the inner entrance
• the Meeting of S. Francis and S. Dominic in the loggia of S. Paolo, Florence
  Florence
  Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
  
  
• the Virgin adoring the Divine Child in the Crib in the Bargello
  Bargello
  The Bargello, also known as the Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence, Italy.-Terminology:...
  
  
• the Resurrection of Christ in the S. Bernardino Basilica in L'Aquila
  L'Aquila
  L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
  
  
• the Madonna della Quercia at Viterbo
• the marble high altar of S. Maria delle Grazie at Arezzo
  Arezzo
  Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
  
  
• the decorations of the vaulted ceiling and porch of the old Pistoia Cathedral
  Pistoia Cathedral
  Pistoia Cathedral is the main religious building of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Pistoia and is dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona....
  
  
• the decorations of Sante Flora e Lucilla in Santa Fiora
  Santa Fiora
  Santa Fiora is a comune in the Province of Grosseto, in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 40 km east of Grosseto...
  
  
• the Crucifixion and the Assumption of the Virgin at La Verna
  La Verna
  La Verna, in Latin Alverna and geographically known as Monte Penna, is a locality on Mount Penna, an isolated mountain of 1,283 m situated in the centre of the Tuscan Apennines, rising above the valley of the Casentino, central Italy...
  
  .