I’ve just completed a new ancient Biblical sculpture. My New Black Moses stands 31.5cm high and is made of black fired clay with touches of a dark metallic underglaze.
The inspiration for this type of formal, standing figure comes from the ancient sculpture of Mesopotamia. The (linked) article from the Metropolitan Museum’s website describes this type of standing figurine as a “votive” statue. This means that people would commission figures like these, and have them placed in their local temple. Thus they would have a constant presence before their deity: an image of themselves before their god at all times:
The votive statues are of various sizes and usually carved in gypsum or limestone. They depict men wearing fringed or tufted fleece skirts, and women wearing fringed or tufted dresses draped over one shoulder. Many have inlaid eyes and painted hair. The statues are usually carved with the hands clasped, right over left, at the chest or waist in a gesture of attentiveness. Some figures hold cups or branches of vegetation. Standing figures often step forward with the left foot. Male heads are frequently shown bald but sometimes wear beards, while female figures can have a variety of hairstyles or headdresses. Facial characteristics offer little variation from one statue to the next.
