Young Woman with a Lamb c. 1680 - 1700

This terracotta sculpture by Jan Smeltzing, dating back to the late 17th century, features a young woman tenderly holding a lamb. The lamb, a symbol of innocence and purity, has ancient roots, often associated with sacrifice and redemption across various cultures. We see echoes of this motif in early Christian art, where Christ is portrayed as the sacrificial lamb, Agnus Dei. This imagery hearkens back to pagan traditions, where animal offerings were a common ritual, tapping into a deep-seated human desire for atonement. Think of the Greek 'Hekatomb' or the Semitic practice of offering livestock to deities. The rose adorning the woman points to a connection with love and beauty, themes that intertwine with the lamb's purity, creating a complex, subconscious narrative of life, death, and renewal. The enduring power of these symbols lies in their ability to resonate across time, constantly re-emerging with new layers of meaning.