18th Century Wood Sculpture "Bambino Gesu" with Eyes in Glass

About the Item

18th century wood sculpture "bambino gesu" with eyes in glass with round golden base from Naples traditionally sculpture for presepe. The cult of the "Divine Child" involved the aristocratic families, those who had joint founders of convents or simple nuns. From the well-to-do classes, the cult spread to the popular classes with great intensity and participation. Almost every family owned a Bambinello sculpture to protect the house and to promote new maternity. The sculptures were kept under glass bells if the Bambinello was in a vertical position, mostly blessing, in carved and gilded scribbles if they were sleeping or lying on their backs. Modest showcases, in lacquered wood, were designed to contain humble Bambinelli for the lesser-sized classes. Church worship needs, and religious demonstrations in private homes, during Christmas, helped to increase the demand for the production of new simulacra. To satisfy the most varied requests, in relation to the costs of "production", the "Divini Infanti" were made with different materials (wood, papier mâché wax, terracotta) and in many attitudes: naked children, in swaddling clothes, blessing, with symbols of passion, near paradise, in regal poses, etc. Often more materials were used, with mastery, for the same sculpture, example: tow body, head and limbs of wood or terracotta, silk thread hair, eyes of glass paste etc. Among the most fashionable shops, in the six / 18th century, for the production of Bambinelli and Bambinelle, those of southern Italy and the Neapolitan in particular, were for the quality and variety of the most flourishing products. For everyone we remember the Sammartino (1720-93), a famous Neapolitan artist already alive as a sculptor of "first magnitude".

Dimensions:

Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)Width: 6.3 in (16 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)

Style:

Louis XVI (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Scrap Wood,Woodwork

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

1750-1759

Date of Manufacture:

1750