Various Early Christian sculptures (4th-6th centuries)

Almost no sculpture in the round has survived, and perhaps were never made, because of the fear of making images like the statues of pagan gods. Among the few survivors are statuettes of the Good Shepherd, who might double as Hermes Kriophoros, and philosophers who may be discreet images of Christ giving the Law (the Traditio Legis). In these cases, Christ is always depicted as the Good Shepherd, or as a lawgiver, never as Himself.

Other notable works of sculpture are ivory reliefs, used as the covers of Gospel books and diptychs.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
The Brescia Casket (Lipsanotheca)
late 4th century
Ivory, 22 x 32 x 25 cm
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1000*812
True Color
232 Kb



The Brescia Casket (Lipsanotheca)
late 4th century
Ivory, 22 x 32 x 25 cm
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1128*1200
True Color
176 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (front)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1100*883
True Color
236 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (left side)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

899*950
True Color
226 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (right side)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

906*950
True Color
243 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (back)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1000*780
True Color
234 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (lid)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1200*803
True Color
245 Kb



The Brescia Lipsanotheca (lid)
late 4th century
Ivory
Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia

1100*796
True Color
220 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (south side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1150*926
True Color
248 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (south)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1063*1150
True Color
250 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (north side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1200*840
True Color
231 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (north side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1400*1057
True Color
237 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (east side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1300*1030
True Color
220 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (east side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1011*1050
True Color
243 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (west side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1300*867
True Color
221 Kb



Base of the obelisk of Thutmose III (west side)
390s
Photo
Hippodrome, Istanbul

1400*1140
True Color
222 Kb



The Nicomacchi panel
c. 400
Ivory, 30 x 12 cm
Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris

617*1500
True Color
248 Kb



The Symmachi panel
c. 400
Ivory, 30 x 12 cm
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

810*1500
True Color
200 Kb



Diptych
c. 400
Ivory
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence

800*725
True Color
137 Kb



Adam in Paradise
c. 400
Ivory
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence

714*1600
True Color
200 Kb



Diptych panel
500-50
Ivory, 34 x 27 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

801*1000
True Color
200 Kb



Diptych panel (detail)
500-50
Ivory
Musée du Louvre, Paris

1160*1500
True Color
249 Kb



Wooden door
430-32
Wood
Santa Sabina, Rome

771*1000
True Color
215 Kb



Wooden door
430-32
Wood
Santa Sabina, Rome

1400*1003
True Color
252 Kb



Wooden door (detail)
430-32
Wood
Santa Sabina, Rome

636*1400
True Color
216 Kb



Wooden door (detail)
430-32
Wood
Santa Sabina, Rome

635*1400
True Color
219 Kb



Wooden door (detail)
430-32
Wood
Santa Sabina, Rome

626*1400
True Color
218 Kb



Throne of Maximianus
545–53
Ivory, 150 x 60 cm
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

735*1200
True Color
194 Kb



Throne of Maximianus
545–53
Ivory, 150 x 60 cm
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

1400*1070
True Color
239 Kb



Throne of Maximianus (detail of the front)
545–53
Ivory
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

1200*784
True Color
251 Kb



Throne of Maximianus (detail)
545–53
Ivory
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

1013*1300
True Color
245 Kb



Throne of Maximianus (detail)
545–53
Ivory
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

812*1300
True Color
242 Kb



Throne of Maximianus (detail)
545–53
Ivory
Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna

812*1300
True Color
231 Kb



The Good Shepherd
300-20
Marble
Museo Pio Cristiano, Vatican

945*1600
True Color
168 Kb



The Good Shepherd
300-20
Marble
Museo Pio Cristiano, Vatican

640*1600
True Color
142 Kb



Christ as the Teacher (Cristo docente)
350-75
Marble
Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome

817*1600
True Color
152 Kb



Christ as the Teacher (Cristo docente)
350-75
Marble
Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome

875*1500
True Color
179 Kb



Figure of a Prophet
c. 450
Stucco
Orthodox Baptistery, Ravenna

833*1400
True Color
240 Kb



Martyrdom of St Achilleus
4th century
Marble
Church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo, Rome

1059*1600
True Color
192 Kb




Summary of Early Christian Art
Sculpture | Catacomb paintings | Various paintings
Mosaics | Coptic art