Renaissance Sculpture Acquired by The Getty - Medievalists.net

"The J. Paul Getty Museum has announced the acquisition of a life-size glazed terracotta sculpture by Andrea della Robbia, one of the foremost sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. The work depicts Saint Anthony the Abbot, a third- and fourth-century Christian hermit famed for his asceticism and role as a model for monastic life. Created between 1510 and 1515, the sculpture likely originated in Tuscany."

"Alongside della Robbia's Renaissance masterpiece, the Getty has also acquired works ranging from contemporary art to ancient craftsmanship-including a remarkable Hellenistic ring dating to around 150 BCE. Crafted from gold, the ring features an oval, box-shaped bezel set with a domed rock crystal that reveals a miniature garden scene of enamelled flowers and filigree oak leaves. Exceptionally preserved, it represents one of the finest surviving examples of its type."

""The Getty Museum continues to expand its collections with new works that enrich our visitors' experience of the major periods and movements of European art history, at the same time diversifying the narratives and perspectives that can be brought to their understanding and enjoyment," said Tim Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the Getty Museum. "These works... not only strengthen the breadth and depth of our permanent collection, but also open fresh avenues for scholarship, interpretation, and connection with our audiences.""

The J. Paul Getty Museum acquired a life-size glazed terracotta sculpture of Saint Anthony the Abbot by Andrea della Robbia, created circa 1510–1515 and likely from Tuscany. The sculpture reflects Andrea's expansion of his family's glazing techniques, offering a wider colour palette and increased scale and intricacy; the figure was fired in separate sections as typical for monumental terracotta. The work embodies rural devotion and constitutes the museum's first grand-scale glazed terracotta acquisition. The Getty also acquired diverse pieces including a Hellenistic gold ring (c.150 BCE) with a domed rock crystal revealing a miniature enamelled garden, exceptionally preserved. These acquisitions broaden collection scope and support scholarship and public engagement.

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