Della Robbia was born in Florence. In 1517, he moved to France where he worked in the court of King Francis I of France, and in 1529, he joined his brother Luca "the young". In 1525, he returned to Florence following the imprisonment of Francis I (1525–26) or because of the death of his father, which both happened in the same year.
During his stay in Florence (1525–28) he probably made a monumental Crucifix out of terracotta, which is preserved in the Church of St. Peter Vinculis in San Piero in Bagno (Forlì). Also during these years, another work testifies to the presence and activities of Girolamo della Robbia's workshop, the Altoviti Emblem (1525) of Palazzo Pretorio (Certaldo). Among his most challenging and famous pieces are the Tabernacle of Fonticine in Florence and Madonna and Child with St. John now at the BNCF (Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Firenze) inspired by Raphael’s Madonna of the Louvre, which was on display during the exhibition that presented the Madonna del cardellino, also by Raphael, restored 2008-2009.
