18th century Neapolitan Nativity

The Nativity is, without a doubt, the centerpiece of every nativity scene. Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph occupy the central scene and symbolize humility and hope. These are the characters everyone knows, but in the Neapolitan nativity scene, they are not the only protagonists. The distinctive feature of the Neapolitan nativity scene is its inclusion of a wide variety of figures representing everyday life and the world surrounding the Nativity. Each figure has a symbolic role and enriches the scene with elements of humanity and popular culture.