Reliquary
with Shepherds' Gifts for the Christ Child
3rd ¼ of 11th
century, eastern France
Ivory
Musée National de l'Age Médiévale, Paris
Even though the first shepherd's fingers actually touch those of the
Christ Child the composition strongly segregates them from the him and
from Mary. The tower imposes a strong vertical to separate the
two groups and suggests that they are around the corner from each
other, not in a horizontal plane.
See detail of Mary and the Christ
Child
More of the Shepherds
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke