Catello Maresca tells the story of the Cortese Nativity, a piece of Neapolitan history

The art of the nativity scene is an integral part of Neapolitan tradition and history. Religious devotion and the creativity of the Neapolitan people merged in the 18th century to give life to the Neapolitan nativity, already highly appreciated at the time by the nobles of Bourbon Naples.

Numerous artists created their own versions of the Neapolitan nativity. Among the most notable exponents of nativity art was Giuseppe Sanmartino, famous author of the Veiled Christ. His influence gave rise to a school of sculptors of nativity figures, united by the idea that every shepherd in the nativity is a work of art in itself and not just a simple figurine.

From November 14, 2025, visitors can admire the Infant Jesus by Giuseppe Sanmartino in Naples, located in the historic center at the Basilica della Pietrasanta – Lapis Museum.

Those who wish to delve deeper into nativity art can attend the exhibition Il Presepe Cortese – The Legacy of Charles III. A sensory journey into the past, back to the Naples of King Charles III of Bourbon.

The exhibition is curated by Fabrizia Fiore and Magistrate Catello Maresca, with whom we explore these and other themes in detail.

Director Maresca, welcome to InItaly, the magazine that promotes Italian excellence and Made in Italy. How did the idea of curating this exhibition come about? What role does the dissemination of art play?

Love for art, and for beauty in general, is certainly a fundamental ingredient of this choice, and it greatly helps in the realization of such initiatives.

In a broader context where ugliness seems to prevail, we try to resist by offering a different idea, starting from our passion for the 18th-century Neapolitan nativity, but expanding to tell the story of Naples as a capital of a kingdom, of taste, art, and culture. In the Gospel narrative, at the birth of the Infant Jesus, time stood still. The 18th-century Neapolitan nativity is the three-dimensional, theatrical representation of that instant.
It is the only artistic form that has managed, for almost three hundred years, to crystallize that moment, and it relives it every year with unchanged emotion and participation. The nativity carries a universal message that is not only Christian.

How is the visit to the Cortese Nativity organized? How does this exhibition fit into the context of the Lapis Museum?

The exhibition is composed of several stages, combining tradition with multimedia. In the crypt of the Basilica, the three large spaces dedicated to the Cortese Nativity seem made to host this exhibition and to accompany visitors on a journey to the court of Charles III of Bourbon, who elevated the Neapolitan nativity to a true work of art, still recognized worldwide today.

What is your favorite figurine from the Cortese Nativity?

Like all exhibitions worthy of the name, we too have our star player, which is undoubtedly the Infant Jesus by Giuseppe Sanmartino, the same author of the Veiled Christ, which tourists can visit just 100 meters away. It is my favorite, but together with my wife we have many pieces we love, such as an innkeeper by Nicola Somma, another great 18th-century sculptor. And many others, including a housemaid by De Luca or nobles by Sanmartino.

To use a football metaphor, as a good Neapolitan, I would say that besides Maradona we have many other excellent players—a truly great team.

The Veiled Christ, another masterpiece by Giuseppe Sanmartino, is located nearby. Was the choice of location therefore strategic?

After highly attended and appreciated exhibitions at the National Archaeological Museum (MANN) and the Sanctuary of Montevergine in past years, and the multimedia experience at the Museum of San Martino, we were looking for a location closer to the nativity tradition.

At the Lapis Museum we are in the heart of Naples’ historic center, 100 meters from the Veiled Christ and 150 meters from San Gregorio Armeno, the street of nativity scenes, now famous worldwide and a fixed destination for Italian and foreign tourists. I would say we now feel at home.

Is nativity art, a pillar of our tradition, at risk of disappearing in the modern era? What can be done to keep it alive?

Neapolitan nativity art is unique in the world, the result of the genius of extraordinary sculptors like Giuseppe Sanmartino. But it also encompasses a range of artistic and artisanal skills for which Naples and Italy were renowned everywhere. This is perhaps one of the reasons why we find collections of Neapolitan nativity scenes at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Bavarian National Museum in Munich, in Madrid, in France, in Basel, Switzerland, in Philadelphia, and in many other places worldwide.

Losing this tradition would mean renouncing our identity and forgetting our history. That is why we proudly carry forward this experience, not without sacrifice, convinced that it will be appreciated by many. It is our gift to Naples for its 2,500 years of history.

We thank Magistrate Maresca for sharing his story with us and wish him a fruitful professional future.