Standing sheep 1750 - 1799

Nicola Vassalo, active in Naples during the late 18th and early 19th century, created this terracotta “Standing Sheep”. Naples at the time was renowned for its production of terracotta figures, often used in elaborate nativity scenes, or Presepi. These scenes were not simply religious depictions; they offered a stage to represent the entire social spectrum of Neapolitan life. The seemingly simple figure of this sheep becomes significant when viewed through the lens of class and labor. The sheep, an animal central to agricultural economies, symbolizes both pastoral life and the source of wool, a valuable commodity. Vassallo's choice to sculpt it speaks to the period’s economic realities and the relationship between humans and animals. Consider, too, how the detailed rendering of the sheep’s wool invites touch. It's a tactile invitation, but also a reminder of the labor involved in textile production, and how art can both celebrate and obscure the realities of work and class.