Pastoral Madonna
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Authors
Unknown (Napoletan sculptor)
Date
Type
Language
Keyword
Madonna and Child , Shepherd , Sheep
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Pastoral Madonna draws on the traditional imagery of Christ as the "Good Shepherd" of humankind. This imagery is drawn from the opening lines of Psalms 23, "The Lord is my shepherd" (KJV). Here the Madonna is shown surrounded by leaping livestock and holding a shepherd's staff, which also functions as a spear to keep a wolf at bay. The wooden sculpture is dressed in green silk robes embroidered in gold. The Madonna's clothes, however, change throughout the year according to seasons and holidays. The whole sculptural group dates to the second half of the 18th century, whereas the silver accessories are dateable to the end of the 19th century. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Description
Cathedral, Martina Franca
Citation
Angelo Golizia, San Martino: la Basilica di Martina Franca (Milano: Leonardo International, 2010), p.75.