ROBBIA, Andrea della

Italian artist, nephew of Luca della Robbia. He trained with his uncle and assisted in his workshop. In 1458 he enrolled in the Arte dei Maestri di Pietra e Legname (stone and woodworkers’ guild) as an intagliatore (carver), although he continued working with his uncle. His early works, including the altarpiece of the Virgin and Child with Saints (1466; Florence, Misericordia), reflect styles codified by Luca, which makes them difficult to identify among workshop products of the mid-15th century. The famous roundels of infants on the façade of the Foundling Hospital in Florence (1463-66) were probably made by Andrea.

Luca’s business was carried on by Andrea, and later by Andrea’s five sons, of whom Giovanni (1469-after 1529) was the most important.