Statuette of the Good Shepherd

myminifactory

This statuette of the Good Shepherd is a carefully restored fragment of a large sarcophagus. The theme of the "shepherd" is one of the most iconic in ancient Christian art, and the statuette in the Pius-Christian Museum is undoubtedly one of its most famous and striking representations. The "kriophoros" shepherd, holding a ram or a lamb on his shoulders, is an enduring icon rooted in classical art, as a representation of faithful service and later as an allegory of generous compassion. The image was adopted in funerary art, among the characters of idyllic scenes alluding to otherworldly bliss, and was finally inherited by Christians, in relation to the figure of Christ, the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11) and the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7). The statuette in the Pius-Christian Museum, with its handsome face recalling Apollo and typical of the most ancient iconography of Christ, is without a doubt evidence of this latter semantic evolution. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open-source, community-driven effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.