|
 |
The Presepio in Rome
After 1289, the year in which Arnolfo di Cambio worked his statues
for the Basilica of St Mary Major in what is considered the very
first round representation of the Nativity Scene, we have to wait
for three centuries to find reliable information about the existence
of Presepio in Rome. In fact in 1581 a Spanish Fransican Juan Franciso
Nuno, charged with gathering information on the tradition of the
Presepio in Rome, speaks of various Nativity Scenes found in churches
and monasteries, particularly the Presepio at the Aracoeli Church
which still draws great crowds, with its famous statue of the Holy
Infant adorned with precious stones, carved, according to tradition,
by an unnamed Franciscan friar out of a branch of an olive tree
taken from the Garden of Olives in Jerusalem.
In Rome as in Naples, Genoa and Sicily, the Presepio spread from
churches to patrician homes with artificial and spectacular constructions
aimed to provoke more amazement than devotion, produced by all manner
of artists including famous Bernini who made one for Prince Barberini.
18th century Presepios include a beautiful example at the Poor Clare
sisters' church of St Lawrence with five magnificent figures, and
others in Santa Maria in Trastevere and at the convent church of
Santa Cecilia. In the 19th century the Presepio spread to all levels
of society with the production of inexpensive figures in terracotta.
Some were built in church porches, or balconies with natural scenery
and the sky as a background. One of the most visited is the Presepio
built by the city's maintenance workmen, or garbage collectors,
near St Peter's which is visited every year by Pope John Paul II.
But the most famous of all is the giant Nativity Scene built every
year during Advent since 1982 at the request of Pope John Paul by
Vatican workmen in St Peter's Square. The figures, 18th century
larger than life, were made for Saint Vincent Pallotti and donated
by the Pallottine Fathers to the Pope. The Presepio is opened on
Christmas eve and one of the first visitors is the Pope himself.
It is taken down after the Season and the statues are carefully
stored for the coming Christmas.
|
Fides News
Fides
News 2004
Alto
Adige