Bom Pastor

Title
Bom Pastor
Year/Period
17th - 18th century
Region
Goa, India
Material
Accession No.
2013-00903
Collection of

This is a fine example of an ivory Christian image from Goa. The child Jesus is seen here as a shepherd seated on the trunk of a palm tree with the Holy Father standing guard above. Gently dozing with his head to one side, one lamb rests on his lap, and another on his shoulder. The fan-shaped branches of the palm tree are unfortunately missing from this piece. The trunk emanates from rockwork with a lion head fountain and a few grazing sheep above a grotto with a recumbent Maria Magdalene. Above the shepherd’s head is God the Father depicted as Salvator Mundi.