Coronation of the Virgin

The glazed terracotta relief on the lunette above the main doors of the Chiesa di Ognissanti, the thirteenth-century Florentine church, was made in the early sixteenth century. The coronation of the Virgin, the central theme of the relief, forms the middle section of the composition, and her figure is surrounded by musician angels. Beneath her, there are a series of saints and martyrs, reflecting the church’s dedication to All Saints (Ognissanti). Previously attributed to the Robbia workshop, the relief is now thought to have been made by Benedetto Buglioni, a Florentine sculptor who became known for his glazed terracotta statues. Buglioni’s artistic style was greatly influenced by Luca and Andrea della Robbia and by Antonio Rossellino.