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The tradition of sculpting nativity scenes for churches goes back to the early Christians. In the 13th century St. Francis is said to have created one in a natural cave complete with live animals. In 18th century Naples, creating presepi developed into a fine art, with figures carved in wood or formed in terracotta by leading sculptors and included entire villages, with houses, food, musicians, all the shops and artigiani (artisans) and craftspeople of that time period.
One of the finest examples can be seen at the Museo Nazionale di San Martino – “Il Presepe Cuciniello“, a monumental collection from the 1700′s recently restored, with thousands of figures, some with bodies of cloth wound on wire, with heads, hands and feet meticulously carved and painted. Every one is a distinct personality. The sheer complexity of this presepe will astonish you as every member of the community of 17th and 18th Naples is represented, along with the Holy Family, angels, shepherds, and the wise men and their entourage.
On the little street of Via San Gregorio in Naples, are all the shops that make and sell everything you could possibly need to create a nativity scene. You will find many that are new and mass-produced, but each one created by the better craftsmen is a piece of sculpture, unique and life-like. The costumes are authentic down to the smallest detail. You can even buy a ready made village to set in your own home with everything you need to complete your very own presepe.
– Contributed by Rosemary and Bob Connelly (see bio), artists who fulfilled their dream to “Live Cheap and Make Art” in Italy. Their website www.livecheapmakeart.com showcases their watercolors and photographs.
If you live in the US and can’t get to Naples, I highly recommend a visit to the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven CT at this time of year. Every year it puts together several large rooms of large and small nativity scenes from various countries that will amaze you with their creativity!
Would you believe thatI STILLOWN ONE IN MINIATURE TYPE,THAT MY MOM BROUGHT ME ON HER FIRST VISIT TO THE sTATES AND IT IS STILL BEING USED EVERY cHRISTMAS .tHE ONLY THING WE HADDED ARE SOME MINIATURE LIGHTS AND A SPECIAL STAR!gREAT CUSTOM THAT HAS BEEN PASSED ON FROM GENERATIONS AND HOPE IT WILL CONTINUE FOREVER.tHANKS FOR MAKING VEVERY NEW NOTE MORE PLEASURABLE .lET ME WISH TO ONE AND ALL A *bUON nATALE ED UN nUOVO aNNO PIENO DI GIOIA,SALUTE, EBENESSERE.
Loved this note!! Brings me there!! I would love to visit San Gregorio and see all of this live. Hoping to get there in February.
Grazie e Buon Natale!
The more I learn about these the more I fall in love with them. We had mangers and I made one myself but they were the usual ones you see here in the US. My family comes from Napoli and nearby villages. My Grandparents never told us about these (out loss). They are fabulous. I found a vendor on e-bay from Napoli that sells some pieces for you to buy and make your own but I can not afford them. They are worth the price but my budget is too slim or I would. You can look at pictures of his shop and it will amaze you the work. I would love to have a small version. Thank you for sharing. I can never get enough of seeing them or learning about them. Buon Natale! Felice Anno Nuovo!
Questi presepi are indeed beautiful, and certainly the Naples Presepio is outstanding. And no doubt each family treasures its own more than any other. However, for its sheer historic significance and its own beauty, I highly recommend attending the “real” (live) Presepio — the Passion Play in Obereammergau. It lasts six hours — three in the morning and 3 in the afternoon and involves the entire townspeople. Considering the centuries that have passed, the wars, the pestilences, the changes in their local governments, etc., it even more amazing that the whole German town of Oberammergau has maintained its promise to present the Play every tenth year out of gratitude to God for having spared their town from the disease, …makes it even more astounding. The significance of this world-class event continues to amaze me, having attended only once. Yes, it is expensive, but what a testimony to their “gratitude.” Saint Frances of Assisi, whose ‘first Presepio’ sort of invented the whole idea, would have loved to see the Passion Play!
Anyone know the leading artists, past and present in this field worth collecting?