Robbia, name of an Italian family of Renaissance artists, known especially for their sculpture and ceramics, which flourished in Florence for nearly 150 years.
Luca Della Robbia (1400?-82), originated glazed terra-cotta bas-reliefs, usually with white figures on a blue ground. He was born in Florence and lived all his life there. His delicate reliefs were mostly of religious subjects; those of the Madonna are especially notable. Luca initially worked in white and blue but later added glazes of many colors, especially green and yellow on a wreath of fruits and flowers around the figures. His terra-cottas were individual pieces of art, built into walls to serve in architectural contexts.
Between 1431 and 1438 Luca designed and executed for the cathedral in Florence the famous Singing Gallery, ten marble panels in high relief, with groups of children singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. Another great work by Luca was a bronze door, with ten panels of figures in relief, for the sacristy of the cathedral in Florence (1464-69). In marble he also sculptured, in 1457-58, the tomb of Federighi, bishop of Fiesole. Luca founded a family workshop, which continued to make fine terra-cottas into the 16th century.
Andrea Della Robbia (1437-1528), Luca's nephew, the most important of his successors. Trained by his uncle in both marble and ceramics, Andrea specialized in the creation of narrative sculpture. His best-known work is the Foundling Children (1463-66), ten tondos, or round sculptures, depicting swaddled infants, on the facade of Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence.
Andrea's two sons, Giovanni della Robbia (1469?-1529?) and Girolamo della Robbia (1488-1566), also became skilled terra-cotta sculptors; however, their work was inferior to that of their father and uncle. Girolamo was an architect and sculptor; he moved to France and worked for many years near Paris.

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