Granada School; XVIII century.

Granada School; XVIII century.
"St. Joseph in the manger".
Terracotta modeled and polychrome.
It has slight flaws.
Measurements: 29 x 17 x 19 cm.
Terracotta work representing Saint Joseph. The disposition of the figure indicates that it is a piece that originally was part of a larger sculptural group, probably a manger.
The nativity scene is one of the most consolidated Christmas traditions, and has remained unchanged for centuries. The oldest would be the one located in the church of Santa Maria del Pesebre in 1025, known only from documentary sources. Another of the oldest is that of Amalfi, from the 14th century. Also, in 1340 Queen Sancha of Majorca (wife of Robert I of Anjou) gave the Clarisse a crib for the new church, of which today the figure of the Virgin Mary is preserved (Museum of San Martino). Another of the oldest preserved examples, dated 1478, is a nativity scene by Pietro and Giovanni Alemanno with twelve figures. They were also made in marble, as attested by the one by Antonio Rossellino of Sant'Anna dei Lombardi, dated 1475. Finally, the 18th century was the Golden Age of the nativity scene, during the reign of Charles III. The figures multiply, the narrative of the representation increases and we will see all kinds of profane elements, with representations of noble characters as well as shepherds, innkeepers, shopkeepers, etc.