In Pliny I read about the invention of clay modeling. A Sicyonian potter came to Corinth. There his daughter fell in love with a young man who had to make frequent long journeys away from the city. When he sat with her at home, she used to trace the outline of his shadow that a candle's light cast on the wall. Then, in his absence she worked over the profile, deepening, so that she might enjoy his face, and remember. One day the father slapped some potter's clay over the gouged plaster; when the clay hardened he removed it, baked it, and showed it abroad {63}.
In her book "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," Annie Dillard recounts a story from Pliny about the origins of clay modeling. The tale centers around a potter from Sicyon whose daughter falls in love with a young man who often travels. To keep his memory alive during his absences, she would trace his shadow on the wall created by candlelight and eventually sculpt his profile in the clay.
The father of the girl, noticing her creative endeavor, added potter's clay to her work. After the clay hardened, he baked it and presented the final piece, which reflects the sentimental motivations behind the art of modeling and the deep connection to love and memory.