Tondo Definition

Tondo refers to a circular work of art that may be a painting, sculpture, plaque, carving or mural design. This art work was there from Greek antiquity. It became popular in Italy during the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Tondo derives its name from the Italian word rotondo meaning round. Plural of tondo is tondi. Some of the examples of this art work are Madonna and Child that had been used in wall tombs, glazed terra-cotta medallions by Luca della Robbia, Botticelli’s The Madonna of the Magnificat and The Madonna of the Pomegranate. Small round miniature pictures that are less than two feet in diameter are not considered Tondo work. However, this strict measurement is not adhered for sculptures.
 
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