THE CORTESE NATIVITY SCENE: a masterpiece unique in the world
The 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene represents the pinnacle of an artistic and cultural tradition that is unparalleled. Born from the encounter between religious devotion and popular creativity, it became a true court phenomenon, loved by kings, queens, and nobles of Bourbon Naples.
Where to visit Il Presepe Cortese
A MASTERPIECE BY GIUSEPPE SANMARTINO
In the nativity scene set up at the exhibition, visitors will be able to admire the entire Nativity scene composed by the Madonna, Saint Joseph, and the Baby Jesus, all works by the sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino, creator of the Veiled Christ.
Ticket informationA GAME FOR THE ELITE
The most famous sculptors and artists of the time, commissioned by the royal family, other noble families, and the wealthy bourgeoisie, tried their hand at this art form.
The most famous of all, Giuseppe Sanmartino, creator of the Veiled Christ, is the founder of the most important school of sculptors of nativity scene figures.
Poetic Mirror of the City
Queen Amalia of Saxony and the aristocracy entrusted the finest craftsmen with creating sumptuous nativity scenes, symbols of taste and piety: terracotta faces, glass eyes, silks, and lace tell the story of the cosmopolitan Naples of the Bourbons.
From the nineteenth century to the present day, museums and families continue to preserve and renew this tradition: a nativity scene that remains a poetic reflection of the city, intertwining art, faith, and popular life.
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THE SHOPS
In the 18th century, a constellation of artists and workshops flourished around the courtly nativity scene, raising the art of nativity scene creation to the highest levels of invention and skill. Giuseppe Sanmartino—famous creator of the Veiled Christ—was the linchpin of this period: his workshop and influence gave rise to a school of sculptors (among the most active of whom were Francesco Celebrano, Lorenzo Mosca, Giuseppe Gori, Angelo Viva, and the Bottiglieri family) who refined polychrome terracotta heads with glass eyes, expressive hands, and slender, articulated bodies capable of natural poses and controlled theatricality. The workshops collaborated with painters, set designers, and silk weavers, creating a unified language between anatomy, costumes, and perspective “rocks.”
The value of craftsmanship
Sanmartino, master and model of the courtly nativity scene, elevates the shepherd from a simple figurine to an autonomous work of art. At the same time, nativity scene schools are defined, recognizable by their taste and rendering.
In the historic center, easy to reach and close to one of the most beautiful squares in Naples.
The realism and refinement codified by this tradition continue to inspire museums, collections, and artisans around the world, keeping the splendor of the Neapolitan nativity scene alive.
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