Sarcophagus of the three shepherds, Historia sztuki, Historia sztuki średniowiecznej powszechnej
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RESTORATION PROJECTS /
RESTORATION PROJECTS /
PIO-CHRISTIAN MUSEUM
sarcophagus of the
three shepherds
Artist: Unknown
Date: 4
th
Century AD
Dimensions: 72 x 223 x 112 cm
Material: Marble
Inventory Number: 31554
Total Cost:
€
11.170,00
t
he Sarcophagus of the Three Shepherds is a masterpiece of an-
RESTORATION PROCESS INCLUDES:
A thorough cleaning of this sarcophagus
will recover the original splendor of its
white marble which is currently blackened
by dirt and weathered paint.
cient sculpture and one of the most valuable sarcophagi in the
Pio-Christian Museum. This piece was made under the Roman
Emperor Theodosius in the last quarter of the 4
th
century AD.
During the 4
th
century, the reliefs found on sarcophagi were typically
characterized by triumphal biblical scenes like the Entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem or the Crossing of the Red Sea to stress the importance of
the victory of the Christian faith over paganism, a victory sealed by
the edict of Theodosius. Our sarcophagus is different, however. This
tomb appears to have been completed following older iconographic
models, employing more traditional motifs such as cupids gathering
grapes or the repeated character of the shepherd whose image was
widely used on both pagan and Christian sarcophagi in the 3
rd
century
when Christianity was just beginning to evolve.
Scholars are now discussing whether these older igurative motifs are
the signs of a pagan client or whether the sarcophagus was commis-
sioned by a wealthy Christian who wanted to employ ancient motifs
with the same intentions as the Christian Imperial Court only a few
decades earlier. This can be seen in the mosaics of St. Constance dat-
ing back to mid 4
th
century, decorated with several cupids gathering
grapes.
The quality of this piece’s imagery and depth is remarkable. The reliefs
appear embroidered into the marble while the igures seem to detach
themselves from the surface, creating a lively chiaroscuro effect in the
background.
RESTORATION PROCESS INCLUDES:
- Removal of dust
- Consolidation of cracks and gaps
- Complete overall cleaning
- Scientiic research
- Photographic documentation
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