VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Mdina Cathedral Museum has unveiled a major addition to its cultural collection with the permanent installation of the Neapolitan Crib, an 18th-century ensemble featuring more than 300 handcrafted figurines. Widely regarded as a work of international calibre, the masterpiece places Malta on the map of world-class sacred art.
The historic collection was donated by Monsignor Dr Edgar Vella, whose decades-long dedication to preserving sacred art now enriches Malta’s national heritage.
Inaugurated this week, the crib will remain on display throughout the year. Its intricate Baroque craftsmanship and vivid portrayal of Neapolitan life have long drawn both the faithful and art enthusiasts.
“I decided to donate the whole collection to the Cathedral Museum to be put on permanent display,” Monsignor Vella said, describing the gift as a legacy of faith and beauty.
The Nativity, known as The Mistero, forms the heart of the installation: Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are depicted within the ruins of a pagan temple, symbolising Christianity’s triumph over the old world. Surrounding them are angels, shepherds and the Magi in scenes rich with movement and colour.
Other tableaux include the Annunciation to the Shepherds, a bustling Tavern Scene, and symbolic settings such as the Fountain and Bridge, evoking themes of renewal, baptism and spiritual passage.
Crafted by leading Neapolitan artists of the Bourbon era, each terracotta figure — dressed in fine fabrics and shaped with expressive detail — reflects the union of artistic mastery and devotional storytelling.
Now housed in a dedicated gallery, the Neapolitan Crib joins the museum’s extensive holdings of manuscripts, reliquaries, vestments, prints and period furniture.
Though inaugurated at Christmastime, it is intended as a year-round invitation to reflection, celebrating a message of faith, culture and enduring artistic heritage.
– photo xf3/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
