The large glazed terracotta altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist was commissioned in 1523 by Giovacchino di Filippo Macinghi, the podestà of Vinci. This is clearly evidenced by the inscription and the coats of arms on the predella: on the sides, the emblem of the municipality of Vinci with its turreted castle, and in the center, the Macinghi family crest.
The sculpture was created by Giovanni della Robbia, son of the famous Luca, inventor of this original and successful artistic technique, which involved a second firing using tin glazes and metallic oxides to give the work a brilliant shine and excellent durability against time and the elements. Giovanni’s decorative and coloristic style is evident in the tile pattern forming the background of the Sacred Scene, framed by a colorful festooned border of leaves, fruits, and flowers.