Child-god

336

Dublin Core

Title

Child-god

Creator

unknown Egyptian
Egyptian

Date

380-342 BCE (circa)

Type

relief (sculpture)
work

Medium

plaster
relief (sculpture technique)

Extent

12.7 x 13.97 cm (5 x 5 1/2 inches) [irregular]

Identifier

1957.005.011
1957.005.011
1957.005.011.jpg

Rights

To request permission to publish or reproduce this work, please contact the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

Description

The relief sculpture of a Child-god is a particularly fine example of a ‘sculptor’s model’ or ‘votive object,’ a piece appearing to be a fragment but actually a fully realized object in itself. It is probably Harpokrates, Horus the Child, often found in ‘birthing’ temples, or in artisans workshops associated with the temples, of the Ptolemaic period. Harpokrates is often portrayed sucking his finger, possibly seen here in unfinished form to the right of his mouth. Also common to Harpokrates is the child’s side-lock which curls elegantly down the side of his head. The curling lock is echoed in the smaller curl of the uraeus (upright cobra) on his skullcap, which signifies divine sovereignty. The full cheeks and neck creases suggest a very young child, also common to portrayals of Harpokrates. The carving demonstrates assurance in the delicate quality of the beautifully shaped eyes and mouth, the lovely fullness of the eyebrow and the slight, beneficent smile.

Subject

Egypt; children; gods

Source

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/551360?sortBy=Relevance&ft=child-god&pg=1&rpp=20&pos=22; http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/551316?sortBy=Relevance&ft=child-god&pg=1&rpp=20&pos=40; http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/plaque-of-a-prince-or-child-god-137975

Publisher

Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. State University of New York at New Paltz (New Paltz, New York, United States)
World Art Collection. Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art

Relation

http://hvvacc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/sdma/id/336

Coverage

Ptolemaic
Dynasty XXX: Sebennytic Dynasty [?]

Provenance

Arts and Crafts Honor Society, SUNY New Paltz

Artwork Item Type Metadata

URL

http://hvvacc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/sdma/id/336