Baby Jesus, from Nativity Scene ( 81 pieces), mid 1700s
Unknown artist, Germanyexpand_more
Wood, cloth, paper and other materialsexpand_more
Gift of funds from the Friends of the Instituteexpand_more 94.89.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe was sent by God to redeem the sins of the world. This event, called the Nativity, is depicted in all types of art. In Europe there is a long tradition of creating miniature Nativity scenes out of various materials to be displayed in churches throughout the Christmas season. The krippe, with its wooden figures, is typical of German scenes.
The 81 pieces of this krippe include buildings, animals, and human figures with carved and painted wooden heads, hands, and feet, and silk costumes embellished with gold trim and sequins. Wire bodies underneath the clothing allow each figure to be posed, a feature found in crib figures as early as the 1500s. The Holy Family, three Wise Men, animals, and townspeople fill out the scene. Historical records indicate this krippe once comprised more components, including more than 40 lambs. The lambs could have represented children, suggesting the krippe may have been commissioned for a convent school.
The buildings, meant to represent Bethlehem, the town nearest the site of Christ’s birth, more closely resemble a Baroque German town than a Middle Eastern one, because the carver chose to depict the architecture with which he was most familiar. For the same reason, animals such as elephants and camels are less realistically modeled than the more familiar horses. This blending of recognizable and exotic elements also appeared in religious paintings and illuminated manuscripts of the period, making Nativity scenes more accessible to local viewers. The painted backdrop is a modern addition.
Details
- Title
- Baby Jesus, from Nativity Scene ( 81 pieces)
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 94.89.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.