1. Militello in V.C.

2. Militello in Val di Catania is a municipality in the province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 35 km southwest of Catania, on the last slopes of the Iblean Mountains. Together with other cities of the Val di Noto, Militello has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.

3. Santa Maria della Stella
Its main artistical attractions
include: the church of Santa
Maria della Stella.
Built between 1722 and 1741.
There are lots of  works
preserved in the Temple, first
of all the Nativity attributed
to Andrea della Robbia and
other eighteenth-century
works: sculptures, statues and
sepulchres representing Saints.

4. Inside the church
there is a
magnificent
glazed terracotta
Nativity altarpiece
by the early
Renaissance
Florentine master
Andrea della
Robbia.

5. Andrea della Robbia (October 24, August 4, 1525) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. He was the son of Marco della Robbia, brother of Luca della Robbia.
The success of Della Robbia’s tin glazed sculptures was huge . Their artworks added a precious touch to monasteries, churches and noble dwellings in central Italy, Sicily, Spain, France, England and Portugal.
There is no doubt that Andrea Della Robbia was a great artist. His technique, combined with his unique creative instinct, allowed him to make some monumental masterpieces and won him a place in the short list of the most important Italian Renaissance Artists.

6. His technique was a fundamental innovation in the artistic production of the Renaissance. A great mix of creativity, genius, research, study, technical skills and obstinacy.
The glaze, used to coat the sculptures before the firing in a suitable kiln, makes them almost eternal.

7. Andrea della Robbia preferred to work with colored glazes, opening the way - as well said by Leonardo da Vinci - “to turning any great painting into a glazed terracotta”, meaning that they broke the rigid boundaries between Pottery, Painting and Sculpture. In fact, his works were much rich in colors; he favored the pictorial impact of glazed terracotta, maybe finding his inspiration in Filippino Lippi’s paintings.

8. The ceramic “Nativity” is composed of three marvelously carved panels
The ceramic “Nativity” is composed of three marvelously carved panels. The work was brought to Militello, from Tuscany, from Barresi Giovanbattista in the early'500.