Dovizia (Plenty), c. 1520-1529. Many elite Florentine Renaissance homes had sculptures of idealized young women carrying nature’s bounty, such as this work. The motif stems from a statue by Donatello (about 1386-1466) that towered over Florence’s main public market. At home, however, the sculpture became a talisman for the family’s well-being. Worry about the low birth rate was a serious political matter in Florence, so the sculpture would have stimulated fertility and promoted motherhood, but it also promoted financial success.

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Size: 1305px × 2048px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1469-1529/30, 16th, art, century, cleveland, della, florence, giovanni, glazed, heritage, italian, italy, museum, robbia, sculpture, terracotta