Artwork

St. Luke’s altarpiece, called a reredos, is entitled “The Coronation of the Virgin.” It was created in plaster in 1932 from a cast of the altarpiece “The Coronation of the Virgin” by Andrea della Robbia. The terra cotta original, created by della Robbia around 1474,  is in the Basilica dell’Osservanza Siena in Siena, Italy.

St. Luke’s altarpiece was created from a first-generation cast owned by the Isabel Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. Although St. Luke’s obtained a perfect cast, once removed, the mold form was cracked beyond repair.

This magnificent sculpture shows the Blessed Virgin Mary being crowned as Queen of Heaven, supported by angels and surrounded by five saints. The five saints figured (from the left) are: St. Girolamo, holding a stone, gazing upward; St. Anthony of Padua, in Franciscan habit, holding a book mounted with a flame; St. Chiara is on her knees and holds a scroll; St. Lucy with a martyr’s palm; and St. Francis holding the cross. On top of the coronation scene, there is an arched pediment featuring cherubs. Beneath the main scene are three panels showing the Annunciation on the left, the Nativity on the right, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the center.

Andrea della Robbia’s artwork is noted for the individual faces of his figures and especially for the use of cherubs, which is evident in the many cherubs in our altarpiece.

What is a reredos?

A reredos is an ornamental screen, wall decoration, or paneling located directly behind an altar in a church, often composed of stone, wood, metalwork, or tapestry. Used to enhance the spiritual atmosphere and create a focal point, they often feature intricate carvings, paintings, or statues of saints and biblical scenes. Often, they serve as a didactic tool, illustrating religious scenes to the congregation.