Showcase exhibition in the Courtyard of the Museum of a crib recently added to the collection of the Museum.

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Adoration of the shepherds

Mid-nineteenth century

Polychrome wood carving

MFM 5973

Donation of Asun de Anzizu Furest (2015)

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The crib's tradition became popular in Spain since the eighteenth century because of the interest of King Carlos III (1716-1788) to the Neapolitan cribs. Aristocrats and members of upper classes adopted this tradition, which became another example of its economic power and many of them commissioned their figures to renowned sculptors and artisans. In Spain highlighted in this sculptural typology Francisco Salzillo and his school in the region of Murcia and Ramon Amadeu and Domènec Talarn in Catalonia.

This sculptural group of the Adoration of the Shepherds is a beautiful example of this tradition, by a sculptor with great artistic knowledge and technical mastery. Its composition seems to be inspired by a painting. It stresses the Hebrew shepherds type of romantic origin that would put the group from the mid-nineteenth century. The Italian bagpipe, zampogna, that loads one of the figures remind us iconographic models of the Neapolitan cribs.

Dates: Sunday, 13th of December 2015 to Tuesday, 2n of February 2016

Place: Courtyard of the Frederic Marès Museum

Timetable: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 7pm. Sundays and Holidays: 11am to 8pm. Monday: closed, except holidays

Organized: Museum Frederic Marès