County Durham museum only place in UK showing 18th century Italian nativity this Christmas
by Daniel Hall · ChronicleLiveA County Durham museum will be the only place in the UK showing an 18th century Neapolitan nativity scene this festive season. The Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland will present an Italian-made nativity scene for a seven-and-a-half week period this Christmas.
The display, known as a presepe in Italian, contains hundreds of components created by a team of craftspeople during the 18th century and measures 11 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Dated 1780 and 1820 and likely commissioned for a grand private residence in Naples, it is complete with all traditional characters from the Biblical story telling the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
The scene depicts the Holy Family, the three Wise Men, shepherds with their livestock and a host of angels - while also offering a glimpse of the hustle and bustle of 18th century Naples, with a street market and tavern.
Constructing it in the Faith Museum is a job which takes several weeks, with large pieces of scenery installed before each of the figures, made from iron wire, hemp, wood and terracotta, can be placed carefully into position. In total, there are 421 individual pieces, including 112 figures, 52 animals, and 257 other delicate objects and pieces of furniture.
Clare Baron, head of exhibitions at The Auckland Project, is responsible for overseeing the installation of the nativity scene at Bishop Auckland's Faith Museum. She said: "We’re privileged to be showcasing a presepe of this scale and quality.
"There are very few places outside of Italy that where you can see anything like it. People flock to visit the Neapolitan nativity scenes in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Art Institute of Chicago each Christmas. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to see one a little closer to home, and I hope this might become a new Christmas tradition for families in the North East to enjoy."
The Nativity scene is part of a collection of yuletide festivities taking place at The Auckland Project and Auckland Palace this winter, including the AGLOW light trail, and 2024 Christmas at the Palace, which is brand new for this year. It will be on display from Friday, November 15 to Tuesday, December 31.
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