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CELEBRACIÓN DE LOS 800 AÑOS DEL PESEBRE

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Graphical poster for the 800 years of the Creche exhibit.
Graphical poster for the 800 years of the Creche exhibit.

Del 10 de noviembre de 2023 al 24 de marzo de 2024

Hace ochocientos años, un fraile italiano de 41 años, tal vez inspirado en su viaje a la Tierra Santa, decidió celebrar el nacimiento de Jesucristo haciendo algo especial. Con el permiso del Papa Honorio III, armó una escena de la Natividad tridimensional dentro de una cueva en la ciudad de Greccio, a 60 millas al norte de Roma, utilizando animales vivos para llenar la escena del pesebre. Ese fraile era San Francisco de Asís, fundador de la Orden de Frailes Menores (también conocida como los Franciscanos).

Esta sencilla representación del nacimiento de Cristo evolucionó hasta convertirse en una forma de arte que ha sido explorada durante ocho siglos. El Pesebre se puede encontrar ahora en hogares cristianos de todo el mundo. A menudo incorporan paisajes y tradiciones de la cultura del creador, y se elaboran con materiales nativos de las regiones en las que se fabrican. A pesar de la variedad de formas artísticas que adoptan, un tema sigue siendo universal: el relato bíblico del nacimiento del Niño Jesús. Desde sus humildes orígenes en Belén hasta su crucifixión en las afueras de Jerusalén, el testimonio de Jesucristo une a personas de todo el mundo, inspirándolas a buscar una vida de unidad y paz a pesar de las diferencias geográficas o culturales.

Con pesebres de la colección de Knights of Columbus Museum Inc., esta exhibición rinde homenaje a la rica historia de la Natividad tal como se ve en todo el mundo, desde pequeñas figuras de madera talladas a mano hasta representaciones a gran escala con más de 150 figuras y escenarios elaborados. La exhibición incluye pasajes que describen el momento en Greccio, extraídos del capítulo 30 de la obra de Tomás de Celano de 1229, Vida de San Francisco, la primera biografía del santo, y del capítulo 10 de la obra de San Buenaventura de 1263, Vida de San Francisco de Asís.

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Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre

Nativity scene featuring the Holy Family and five suspended angels against a cave backdrop.
Nativity scene featuring the Holy Family and five suspended angels against a cave backdrop.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche, 2014 by Bottega d’arte presepiale Cantone & Costabile from Italy. This crèche is set within a mystical setting and includes several angels. While there is little scenery, this setting is one of the few in the collection that fully resembles a cave. Mystical settings are extremely rare, as they lack all the frills and embellishments distinctive of the Neapolitan style. This style of crèche is usually created for convents or religious communities. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2015.5.1-.11
elsalvador_creche
elsalvador_creche
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Tin painted crèche from Mexico which includes Holy Family, Angel, a star, three Magi, a shepherd, an ox, and a donkey.
Tin painted crèche from Mexico which includes Holy Family, Angel, a star, three Magi, a shepherd, an ox, and a donkey.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Tin painted crèche from Mexico which includes Holy Family, Angel, a star, three Magi, a shepherd, an ox, and a donkey. Artwork made from tin is found throughout many regions of Mexico. One of the best-known regions for this is Oaxaca, in southwestern Mexico. The artwork, known as Hojalata, meaning “tin plate,” can be finished in either natural metal or bright, vibrant paint. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2016.48.46
Crèche from the Cochiti Pueblo featuring Holy Family, three Magi, a donkey, a lamb, and an ox.
Crèche from the Cochiti Pueblo featuring Holy Family, three Magi, a donkey, a lamb, and an ox.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre

Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre

EE. UU.: pueblo Cochití

Colección/Donación de Knights of Columbus Museum Inc.: Padre Timothy J. Goldrick

Foto de Aaron Joseph
Olivewood carved Nativity with the Holy Family in a stable made from a hollowed-out log. Other figures of people and animals are outside the stable.
Olivewood carved Nativity with the Holy Family in a stable made from a hollowed-out log. Other figures of people and animals are outside the stable.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre

Israel

Colección/Donación de Knights of Columbus Museum Inc.: Gloria Oliviero del patrimonio de Marie C. Lambert

Foto de Aaron Joseph
Wood painted Nativity from Germany with the Holy Family, angel, 2 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, an ox, a donkey, a palm tree, 2 arches, and a star.
Wood painted Nativity from Germany with the Holy Family, angel, 2 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, an ox, a donkey, a palm tree, 2 arches, and a star.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche from Germany by Köhler Kunsthandwerk. Wood painted Nativity with the Holy Family, angel, 2 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, an ox, a donkey, a palm tree, 2 arches, and a star. In 1989, a wood turner named Björn Köhler started his company, Köhler Kunsthandwerk. His minimalist Nativity scenes became so popular he was asked to create a life-size version for the Striezelmarkt Christmas market in Dresden, Germany. Each of these figures were created by being turned and carved on a lathe. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2019.23.10
Photo of a clay Nativity scene from Portugal featuring the Holy Family within a stable. An ox, donkey, and rooster look upon them.
Photo of a clay Nativity scene from Portugal featuring the Holy Family within a stable. An ox, donkey, and rooster look upon them.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche made in the 1960s from Portugal by Jose Franco. Clay Nativity scene features the Holy Family within a stable. An ox, donkey, and rooster look upon them. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2020.24.1
Wood carved Nativity with the Holy Family in front a stable frame. Flanking the stable are 3 Magi, a Shepherd, donkey, ox, and two sheep.
Wood carved Nativity with the Holy Family in front a stable frame. Flanking the stable are 3 Magi, a Shepherd, donkey, ox, and two sheep.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche made in 2022 from Turka, Ukraine by Volodymyr Kravchenko. Linden wood Nativity with the Holy Family in front a stable frame. Flanking the stable are 3 Magi, a Shepherd, donkey, ox, and two sheep. Volodymyr Kravchenko and his family have been making Christian-themed woodcarvings for over 20 years. According to Kravchenko, in April 2022: “My favorite work is the Nativity scene: 11 figures in which not only is work invested but also a particle of the soul is invested. Especially in our time — when we have a lot of grief, tears, and sorrow in the country, when we have a war in the country — it is important that the carving gives joy, gives warmth. This is exactly what I hope our Nativity scene is like. I hope you enjoy my work. And at Christmas, when you are looking at the Nativity scene, you will remember that this work was done by Volodymyr, a carver from Ukraine.” Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2022.17.2
Buri Palm fiber and wood Nativity with the Holy Family, 3 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, and a stable.
Buri Palm fiber and wood Nativity with the Holy Family, 3 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, and a stable.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche made in 2023, designed in Australia and produced in the Philippines by Bristlebrush Designs. Buri Palm fiber and wood Nativity with the Holy Family, 3 Magi, 2 shepherds, 3 sheep, and a stable. The Buri Palm tree, also known as the Corypha elata, is native to several countries in Asia and the northeast portion of Australia. After the palms are cut, they must be soaked, bleached, and then dried. Afterward, they are cut into bundles that are wired to cylinders. Finally, they are cut by hand into their final shape. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2023.12.1
Nativity scene from Senegal featuring Mary holding the Christ Child, Joseph, two shepherds, and the Magi made of wire and dressed with batik fabric.
Nativity scene from Senegal featuring Mary holding the Christ Child, Joseph, two shepherds, and the Magi made of wire and dressed with batik fabric.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Nativity scene from Senegal featuring Mary holding the Christ Child, Joseph, two shepherds, and the Magi made of wire and dressed with batik fabric. The figures of this crèche are dressed in brightly colored wax cloth, also known as batik fabric. The design is printed or drawn onto cotton fabric using melted wax. When the fabric is dyed, the areas covered in wax remain unstained, leaving behind the original background color once the wax is removed. The process of creating batik fabric came originally from Indonesia but reached Africa through Dutch and English merchants. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2023.24.1
Large Nativity depicting the birth of Christ along the customs and daily lives of the local people of 16th century Neapolitan society.
Large Nativity depicting the birth of Christ along the customs and daily lives of the local people of 16th century Neapolitan society.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Neapolitan made in 2014 from Naples, Italy by Bottega d’arte presepiale Cantone & Costabile. In the 16th century, when crafting Nativity scenes, St. Cajetan began to include figures that represented the customs and daily lives of local people of Neapolitan society. King Charles III of Spain, who ruled the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily from 1735 to 1759, took an interest in these Nativity scenes. As a result, crèches were no longer restricted to the use of the Church and clergy but rather assumed wider popularity with the laity. Consequently, a sort of “competition” for the most beautiful crèche with the richest ornamentation and largest number of figures exploded in the court of Naples. The clothing choices for the figures are extensive. These scenes incorporate men and women of all social classes and ages from the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples. The display reproduces part of the Campagna countryside with its rocky outcroppings, where the three scenes of the Neapolitan crèche are set: the manger, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, and the inn. This Neapolitan crèche was put together specifically for the 2014 exhibition Buon Natale: Crèches of Italy. It was created by Bottega d’arte presepiale Cantone & Costabile, a family-owned business in Naples that continues to make Neapolitan crèche figures using the same techniques and methods as artisans of the 18th century. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Accession # 2015.6
Nativity scene depicting Holy Family within grotto surrounded by those paying homage, including St. Francis of Assisi.
Nativity scene depicting Holy Family within grotto surrounded by those paying homage, including St. Francis of Assisi.
Celebración de los 800 años del Pesebre
Crèche, "St. Francis Nativity with The Shepherds’ Stable" by Navidad Nativities (Setting) and Ulpe Wood Art (Figures). Nativity scene depicting Holy Family within grotto surrounded by those paying homage, including St. Francis of Assisi. This crèche was made in honor of the very first Nativity scene, which was created by St. Francis of Assisi in Greccio, Italy, in 1223. The piece has two settings: The St. Francis Nativity and the Shepherds’ Stable. Both settings feature a grotto, or small cave, that resembles the hills of the Italian region of Umbria, where the towns of both Assisi and Greccio are located. The St. Francis Nativity includes a figure of St. Francis, and a piece of rock nearby the figure that comes from Greccio. The Shepherds’ Stable features the shepherds who have come to pay homage to the Christ Child. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection Museum Object # 2024.17.1