* Goa, 17th or 18th century. - Lot 4

* Goa, 17th or 18th century. Mary Magdalene reading the Bible surrounded by two lions. Three elements of a triptych carved in relief. Dimensions of central element: 7 x 6.2 cm. Dimensions of the other two elements: 6.6 x 4.5 cm and 6.7 x 4.1 cm. Weight: 91.2 g; (lion head facing left) 57.6 g; (lion facing right) 41.1 g. (Restoration to one of the elements: lion). Related work: Goa, Mount of the Good Shepherd, circa 1650, carved ivory with traces of polychromy, Height: 43 cm, Width: 15 cm, Depth: 8 cm, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, inv. A. 58-1949. This ensemble features St. Mary Magdalene reclining and reading a book, and two lions. These three elements are part of a larger group called The Mount of the Good Shepherd. This theme is illustrated by a vertical composition. At the top is a half-body figure of God the Father, holding a globe and blessing with his right hand. He surmounts a sleeping Infant Jesus, seated cross-legged and dressed as a shepherd, who himself is placed above a fountain from which animals drink. At the base is Mary Magdalene flanked by lions. With its iconography drawn from both Western Christianity and Indian art, the Mount of the Good Shepherd is a subject uniquely represented by the workshops of Goa, a territory under Portuguese colonial rule from the early 16th century. Numerous examples are still complete in museum collections and date from the mid-17th century.