Christmas Nativity Scene Playing Cards

Luca della Robbia (1399/1400–1482) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, Italy. Della Robbia is noted for his colourful, tin-glazed terracotta statuary, a technique that he invented and passed on to his nephew Andrea della Robbia and great-nephews Giovanni della Robbia and Girolamo della Robbia. Although a leading sculptor in stone, after developing his technique in the early 1440s he worked primarily in terracotta. His large workshop produced both less expensive works cast from molds in multiple versions, and more expensive one-off individually modelled pieces. Colourized 2024 by Mark Edward Westerfield. Note: When I saw this beautiful circa 1440 art work I was amazed ... think ... this was made before Leonardo da Vinci was born ... about a decade earlier ... in Florence, Italy, where Leonardo da Vinci began his career. When Luca della Robbia died about age 82, Leonardo da Vinci was about age 30. It is likely that they knew one another. I wanted to colourize this image so this was the result. By chance, I created this beautiful blue for Mary's robe. What do you see here? Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus in the manger, a cow, a donkey, St John the Baptist, and three angels. This pottery is about or over 580 years old. Then, I had the audacity to add colour to it. A cherished Christmas gift.