Mary (from a nativity) 18th century

Curator: So, we’re looking at an 18th-century sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum. It’s a piece called "Mary (from a nativity)," carved from wood by Caspicara, also known as Manuel Chili. Editor: What strikes me is this potent blend of stillness and anticipation, doesn't it? Everything—the colours, their gestures—it's all suspended in this breath before something truly monumental unfolds. It’s incredibly powerful, isn't it? Curator: Absolutely. The artist masterfully employs Baroque dynamism in these devotional figures, even capturing delicate features. Editor: I can really sense it; their garments are adorned in an intense swirl of patterned cloth. And look at the folds! All that intricate detail—that baroque drama—so cleverly offset by their remarkably gentle expressions. Their hands reaching, in contrast to the gold halo of the blessed. Curator: Indeed. Notice too, how the gold leaf accents amplify this contrast of humility and divinity, central to Caspicara's aesthetic vision. The piece resonates so strongly precisely because of this duality. Editor: It’s also this material solidity, isn’t it? I keep wanting to reach out and feel the grain of the wood, sense that link between the physical world and the spiritual narrative playing out. I love how it blends human tenderness with an otherworldly glow. Curator: Definitely, these details create such intimacy for a piece about religious dogma. The use of polychrome and gilding would have served a didactic purpose, appealing to the senses while conveying religious messages, though. Editor: Yes, but also it sparks a deeper human connection for me. That interplay, it draws you into the scene on such an intimate level. Curator: Precisely. It invites you not just to witness the nativity, but to participate in the miracle, even centuries later. Editor: Well, it really makes you think about art's capacity to capture these universal, foundational human emotions across time, right? Love, hope… all wrapped in one beautiful little wood carving.