Silent Night

Creator

Unknown

Preview

Creation Date

Unknown

Medium

clay

Exhibition Label

Some Nativity sets make you laugh, others deliver a social message, still others want to make a cultural statement. Are there many to invite silence, drawing you into a mood of wordless contemplation? This set seems to qualify in more than one way. The figures seem like animated by a swaying rhythm of peaceful harmony. Their darkly luminous complexions set them off in gentle waves from the light green background, only to invite the spectator to follow them back into the silent night of starlit meditation. Wordless contemplation, starlit meditation is one of the things Christmas needs to offer.

Description

13 pieces made in Venezuela from a red clay with a dark finish; 1 wiseman is missing a hand; the rest of the set is in good condition. Exhibition label originally written by Fr. Johann G. Roten, S.M. for exhibit entitled "Elisabeth's Nativity House: The van Mullekom Collection" held at Roesch Library, University of Dayton.

Rights

This material may be protected by U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code) and/or international copyright law. The material is available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) or heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.