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Figure group - The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

  • Object:

    Figure group

  • Place of origin:

    Goa, India (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1650 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Carved ivory.

  • Museum number:

    A.38-1921

  • Gallery location:

    South Asia, room 41, case 14

  • Download image

The Mount of Christ as the Good Shepherd is a common subject in Indo-Portuguese ivories, and seems to be unique to Goa. The figure of God the Father, carved in relief above the Christ Child, represents the Holy Spirit.

Physical description

Group figure in carved ivory. The Christ Child as the Good Shepherd is seated above a mount formed by three tiers; at the top birds and sheep drink froma fountain; below are sheep and lambs and at the bottom St. Mary Magdalene lying reading. Above the Good Shepherd is a separate relief of God the Father.

Place of Origin

Goa, India (made)

Date

ca. 1650 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved ivory.

Dimensions

Height: 24.5 cm

Object history note

This object was created in the Portuguese colony of Goa in the seventeenth-century. It was bought in London in 1921 from J.W. Brooks for £10.

Historical significance: Similar ivories are to be found in most large collections and there are several exemplars in the V&A.

Historical context note

Goa (on the West Coast of India) was a Portuguese colony at this time, and the style of carving combines Indian with European traditions. This subject is particular to Goan Indo-Portuguese ivories.

Descriptive line

Figure group, 'The Good Shepherd', ivory, Indo-Portuguese, Goa, India, 17th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Pr. Strzygowski, Origin of Christian Church Art, trans. O.M. Dalton and H.J. Braunholtz, 1924, pp. 122, 158.
In relation to a similar group at Brunswick, Strzygowski identifies the reclining figure at the base with Yima, the Good Shepherd (cf. the Avesta), and cites these carvings as examples of the Hellenistic treatment of a Mazdean idea.

Labels and date

The Mount of Christ as the Good Shepherd is a common subject in Indo-Portuguese ivories, and seems to be unique to Goa. The figure of God the Father, carved in relief above the Christ Child, represents the Holy Spirit. [March 2009]

Materials

Ivory

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Birds; Christianity; Book; Mary Magdalene (Saint); God; Fountain; Lamb; Jesus; Gourd; Wallet

Categories

Sculpture; Religion; Christianity

Collection code

SCP

Download image
Qr_O69138
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