Posted on 12/04/2005 6:58:42 PM PST by blam
First nativity scene on show after 500 years
By Hilary Clarke in Rome
(Filed: 05/12/2005)
Some of Rome's most sacred artworks - the 700-year-old marble figurines from the world's first known nativity scene - are to leave their crypt for the first time this Christmas after a major restoration.
They were made by Arnolfo di Cambio, the gothic sculptor and architect, in around 1290. The figure of Mary, however, is much younger, having been added 300 years later. It is not known if there was an original depiction of the Virgin.
For the past 500 years the figures have been kept locked in an oratory inside the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, only opening to the public on Christmas Eve.
A £2 million restoration of the oratory means the statues are to be moved to the basilica's public museum.
One of the first people to see the cleaned statues will be Pope Benedict XVI, who is expected to visit on Thursday, which in Italy is the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Santa Maria Maggiore is the most important church for the adoration of Mary. Founded in 420, it stands on a site that was also a centre of pre-Christian fertility rites and used to be known as Santa Maria Ad Presepium, or St Mary of the Nativity Scene.
In the Middle Ages most of Rome, as well as pilgrims from all over Europe, visited the church on Christmas night to admire the holy figures, the tallest of which is just under 3ft high.
The church also holds relics of wood and cloth said to be part of Jesus's manger and swaddling robes.
The restoration of the nativity scene coincides with the 700th anniversary of the death of di Cambio, whose masterpieces include the bronze statue of St Peter in St Peter's Basilica.
Would somebody remind me what the Nativity scene is again? It's been far too long.
:)
How can they write this story without pictures...
Oh, yeah, the birth of Jesus. What does that have to do with Christmas? I wonder, because I never hear about it.
I think it's about the people who planted the first Wishing Tree.
Praesaepe is also the name of a feature ("the Manger") in the constellation Cancer.
Traditionally St. Francis of Assisi (died 1226) is credited with the first Christmas creche...it may be that none of the ones made in earlier decades was intended to be permanent.
I see. It all makes sense now. Thanks for clearing that up, impatient.
:)
Everyone should go to Italy once and visit the museums and cathedrals. It is totally mind blowing. Even the not so famous works of art will leave you in awe. Seeing pictures on the internet does not do any of it justice.
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