On his death in 1670, Francisco Grassia, an Italian sculptor, left in his workshop a ‘Nativity with Glory in Paradise’. It was his last work and in his last will and testament he stated it be donated to a temple in the city of Rome; in return the temple was to offer Masses in suffrage of his soul. This is how this splendid high relief or alto relievo of 2.30 x 1.95 meters, ended up in the Church of Sts. Ildefonso and Thomas of Villanova that the Augustinian Recollects had inaugurated three years before in Via Sistina in the Eternal City, Today, it is the oldest Christmas representation existing in a house of the Recollect Friars.
It consists of two scenes. The lower half represents Mary and Joseph and the Child, surrounded by ecstatic shepherds offering their gifts and playing concerts. On top, in the midst of an authen-tic whirlwind of singing angels, is the image of God the Father blessing His Son. Under Him is the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovering over the Nativity scene.
It is a complex work of art, a product of many years of labor, which captures on the marble the spirituality of contemplation and amazement that characterizes the Christmas.
Gospel of Luke 2: 7-10
The full high-relief The time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them:
—Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
—Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another:
—Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.