MOSAIC - THE GOOD SHEPHERD

THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD

Mosaic is an art from which uses small pieces of materials placed together to create an unified whole. Each piece is a tessera and the materials commonly used are marble or other stone, glass, pottery, mirror or foil-backed glass, shells. The word "mosaic" is from the Latin "mosaicus" and means "belonging to the Muses".

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, erected in the first half of V century, is a Roman building in Ravenna, Italy and it is patrimony of UNESCO. Inside the compound, rich Byzantine mosaics cover the walls of the vault and the dome. Inside the lunette that overlooks entrance is represented "The Good Shepherd", realized by Stokstad in 2004. The man is dressed in golden tunic, leant against a cross and surrounded by his flock, looking him while a sheep comes near to be caressed. The scene is set in a landscape of low hills in the background of trees and bushes. The elements mentioned have references to the Christian faith: the shepherd is considered Christ's personification, the Golden Cross proclaims Christ's victory over death that brings hope of salvation to all the faithful and the halo describes holiness. So the scene can be interpreted as an allegory: as the shepherd guides his sheep, Christ protects his people.