Medically-related sculptures in Gozo

Abstract

Before and during the pre-Modern age, art held great influence over society as a prominent medium of communication especially relating to religious or political messages. Places of worship and other religious-managed institutions, such as the various hospices known as Xenodochium or Nosokomion, frequently commissioned sculptors to carve images suggesting a religious theme into the exteriors and interiors of these institutions. These images generally depicted a religious contemplative diorama or specific saintly individuals directing the viewer to emulate their actions. Other sculptures depict symbolic or realistic body image representations that may have served to communicate a specific message to the contemporary viewer. In Western culture, the head was considered the chief symbolic part of the body signifying intellect, but was further regarded as the seat of the soul. The face was not only considered central to identity, but also an expression of emotion and character. The symbolic or realistic facial image, sometimes illustrating medical features, was therefore a commonly sculptured image. Two such head sculpture images are to be found in the Il-Ħaġar Museum at Victoria- Rabat in Gozo.