Pio Monte della Misericordia
The
masterpiece was born from an idea of Ulderico Pinfildi to create some presepe characters different from the traditional ones of 18th- Century. As a matter of fact the artist took inspiration from the painting of 17th- Century, from Caravaggio particularly who had lived in Naples during that period. Studying his canvas and the dramatic expression of the characters, analysing his inimitable chiaroscuros, Ulderico Pinfildi imagined a new Neapolitan presepe, really different from the stereotype.
He chose 7 Caravaggio's paintings and from each of them he took a character, so each of these characters had been interpretating and recreating in a new figure of the crib.
Among
the characters the artist included Caravaggio himself. Furthermore he decided to settle the entire scene in front of the churchyard of Pio Monte della Misericordia, which was also the customer of the masterpiece itself.
Now, this inedited crib is a permanent exhibition in Pio Monte della Misericordia and it is just in front of Caravaggio’s “Sette opere della Misericordia”.
Caravaggio: from the painting “Il Martirio di San Matteo”
San Giuseppe: from the painting “ Riposo durante la fuga in Egitto”
Mendicante: from the painting “Sette opere di Misericordia”
Angelo: from the painting “San Matteo e l’Angelo”
Maria: from the painting “Madonna dei Pellegrini”
Sant’Anna: from the painting “La Madonna dei Palafrenieri”
Ragazzo: from the painting “Fanciullo con canestro di frutta”
Pellegrina: from the painting “Madonna dei Pellegrini”
