The Christian Reception of Sculpture in Late Antiquity and the Historical Reception of Late Antique Christian Sculpture

Abstract

This article examines the place of sculpture in late antique Christianity. It shows how Christians regarded existing sculpture and proposes reasons why they produced their own. History tells us that Christians abandoned the production of sculpture by the 7th century. Scholars have proposed many theories about why this is so, from a decline in artistic ability to the use of two-dimensional painting to better convey certain conceptions about spirituality or to guard against the influence of pagan idolatry. This article argues that the latter theory should be reassessed with greater interpretive nuance. Rather than suggesting that one medium replaced another, we should instead allow each its unique niche and context within Christian cult practices. Ultimately, this article proposes that Christians also used statuettes in home shrines and participated in public pagan cults. Moreover, a few examples suggest they may even have produced statuettes of saints and of Christ for private veneration.