Bust of a Man

The earthenware bust of a bearded man with Roman style armor and a toga was originally part of a series of busts in three-quarter relief, set within wreathed medallions on the flat gray walls of the courtyard of the Château d'Assier in Figeac, a short distance south of Paris. Girolamo della Robbia, an Italian sculptor and ceramist, designed the series of elegant yet stern exemplars of Roman and Gallic heroes for the residence of one of King François I's important military leaders. The Italianate style of the series, seen for example in the bust format and the Roman costume, demonstrates strong ties to Classical antiquity. This revival, explicitly encouraged by the king, was also very fashionable among the aristocracy of the king's court.