dark brown patina; seated figure with legs hanging down--PL ankle hooked behind PR leg; PR elbow resting on a round object with PR hand on cheek; PL hand on knee; tiny sheep in PL thigh and PL shoulder; figure wears tunic with incised grid motif; pin in backside

Christ the Good Shepherd, 17th-18th century

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The province of Goa in western India was under Portuguese control from 1512–1961, forming a nexus in trading routes that circumnavigated the earth. Goan craftsman were renowned for their supple modeling of ivory (likely exported from Mozambique) into Christian icons, which feed the appetite for luxury products in Europe, as well as furthered evangelical missions throughout Asia and the Americas. Within the genre of Indo-Portuguese ivories, popular subjects include ‘Christ as the Good Shepard’ (the image of Christ as child would have related to similar bronze statuettes of the God Krishna) and the ‘Virgin of the Immaculate Conception,’ which shows Mary atop a crescent moon, both of which remain ever-present icons in South Asia’s diverse religious landscape.

Details
Title
Christ the Good Shepherd
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2019.10.9
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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dark brown patina; seated figure with legs hanging down--PL ankle hooked behind PR leg; PR elbow resting on a round object with PR hand on cheek; PL hand on knee; tiny sheep in PL thigh and PL shoulder; figure wears tunic with incised grid motif; pin in backside