The Peace Crib A Modern Neapolitan Crib In Florence

T he first time I came to          characters: sculptures             Italy, in Naples, I was         representing the people of the     struck by the cribs of          town and famous figures.           1700. They opened new horizons to                                        me. I was used to the one of the      This was the start of a            Metropolitan Museum of New York,      thirty-year experience. Every      small and simple at the base of       year after that debut in 1976-77   an imposing Christmas Tree.           it has had more and more success;                                        it was an opening up of a new      The cribs of Naples were a real       life.                              discovery to me!” Together with                                          the crib Yvonne DiPalma – born in     The crib emigrated to Florence     Philadelphia – met also the           where it found in Monsignor Setti  sculptor Michele Attanasio. She       a supporter and in the Basilica    fell in love with him, got            of San Lorenzo a home. In the      married and with him opened the       town of iris the two artists       “Paul Whistler Art Gallery”, near     found the same enthusiasm of the   Sorrento.                             first time: that miracle of a                                            sincere participation.             For Christmas, in a place where                                          everybody prepares a crib, they       After San Lorenzo, it went to      started to make one in the            Loggia Rucellai (1981), then to    Gallery: scenarios by Michele and     Rome, in the Oratory of Santa      characters by Yvonne.                 Maria in Via, then back to                                               Florence, in the church next to    This is how it has begun, by          the Gallery of San Jacopo          chance, the most charming and         Sopr’Arno (1991). In 1992 the      passionate adventure of the life      crib by Yvonne was the set in the  of this artist. In the first          Theatre Parioli of the programme   “Installation” there are 20           Maurizio Costanzo Show.                                                  of 1900 in a crib…                 Since then, the work increased                                           “at home” until the interlude of      Beside the human characters,       Christmas 1999, when it was lent      there is the world of              to the 7th International Festival     international animals: in          “Costruimo il Natale”, in the         addition to the traditional ox     crypt of Santa Croce of Florence.     and donkey, there are also                                               horses, sheep, cats, elephants,    And now let’s know better this        cocks, baboons, rams, kangaroos,   very special crib made of             etc… all in terracotta reproduced  characters of about 50-centimetre     in the minutest details.           height. Yvonne creates the body                                          with iron wire, fabric and            How many are the Crib characters   stuffing.                             now? Yvonne has stopped counting                                         when they have been more than      To be noticed that all clothes        200!                               are sews one by one and represent                                        the Neapolitan models of the 18th     They have got out of control and   century. The heads and hair are       have become alive! Indefatigable,  in terracotta; each sculpted head     Yvonne creates different groups    is a masterpiece of refinement.       and expressions, always            All characters have the features      reflecting upon life and world     either of people the artist has       around us.                         met in her life or of famous                                             figures, among them many              Do not miss it in Florence, Via    international politicians: the        San Zanobi 58 - presidents of United States           href="http://www.yvonnedipalma.co  Nixon, Reagan, Carter, then the       m"                                 Russian, Italian, French, Chinese     title="http://www.yvonnedipalma.c  ones etc. Thirty years of history     om" target="_blank"> color="#001000"                       a.com                   size="-2">http://www.yvonnedipalm      About the Author: For further information on Firenze and Tuscany visit the Official Website: http://www.toscanaechiantinews.com Published At: www.Isnare.com