Name/Title
Sarcophagus Fragment, the Miracle of the Multiplication of the LoavesEntry/Object ID
HM-321Description
Sarcophagus Fragment, the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves
Roman
Late Roman-Early Christian
Ca. 325–350 CE
Material
Marble
Dimensions
Unavailable
Condition
Poor. Missing: the head of the figure in the center of the relief; much of the third basket below;
on our right, the head of Christ and his left arm; on our far left, almost all the figure except his
left foot and some drapery directly above. The surface of the entire relief is very weathered.
Description
The scene portrays the Multiplication of the Loaves, described in all four Gospels. In the center
of the fragment, a follower of Christ cradles in his hands a tall basket of bread. Three more
baskets are at his feet. He wears a tunic and cloak, that is, a pallium. To our right, Christ, in a
long-sleeved tunic and pallium, extends his right hand over the basket of bread held by his
follower to bless it. His left shoulder inclines slightly and his left arm was originally extended to
another follower holding a plate or bowl of fish, which he also blesses. On our far left is the edge
of a garment and foot in low relief belonging to another follower of Christ in this scene or to a
figure from a different scene.
Discussion
The scene is commonly shown on Early Christian sarcophagi. Its date, ca. 325-350 CE, is
determined by a comparison with the remarkably similar scene on the Adelfia Sarcophagus in
Syracuse, Italy. There are close parallels with the carving of the garments, especially of the folds
on the right sleeve of Christ’s pallium and the folds of the pallium over the follower’s right arm.
The comparison with the Adelphia Sarcophagus and provenance (see below) supports a
manufacture in Rome.
Christ’s right hand awkwardly extends beyond the basket, suggesting that the artist had some
problems with foreshortening.
Provenance
This may very well be one of the seven marble fragments obtained by Armando Pacifici in
March 1927 from Siniscalchib and Arturo Dolcetti, both of Rome. Hammond later purchased it
from Pacifici.
Bibliography
Unpublished
Notes
For the frequency of the scene on sarcophagi, see, for example: Guntram Koch, Frühchristliche
Sarkophage (Munich: C.H. Beck, 2000), pp. 168–69; Ulrike Lange, Ikonographisches Register
für das Repertorium der christilich-antiken Sarkophage, Bd. 1 (Rom und Ostia) (Dettelbach: J.
H. Röll, 1996), pp. 17–19; Gary Vikan, Catalogue of the Sculpture in the Dumbarton Oaks
Collection from the Ptolemaic Period to the Renaissance (Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks,
1994), p. 26.
For the Multiplication of the Loaves: Matthew 14.13–21; 15.32–39; Mark 6.31–44; 8.1–9; Luke
9. 10–17; John 6.1–14.
For the Adelfia Sarcophagus: Jutta Dresken-Weiland, Repertorium der christlich-antiken
Sarkophage II. Italien mit einem Nachtrag Rom und Ostia, Dalmatien, Museen der Welt (Mainz
am Rhein: Philipp von Zebern, 1998), pp. 8–10, cat. no. 20; Mariarita Sgarlata, “Il sarcofago di
Adelfia,” in: Et lux fuit: Le catacombe e il sarcofago di Adelfia (Palermo: Arnaldo Lombardi,
1998), pp. 15–51.
For provenance documents: Hammond Castle Museum Archives, documents 1929-07-16 ca
from Armando Pacifici (List of 13 Cases, copy 2 with more notes) p(1) and p(2).Collection
SculptureLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
ReliefNomenclature Primary Object Term
SculptureNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsGeneral Notes
Note Type
1966 Corinne Witham Guidebook (28)Note Type
1966 Corinne Witham Guidebook (30)
