The Met continues a longstanding holiday tradition with the presentation of its Christmas tree. The magnificently lit, twenty-foot blue spruce looms over a vivid eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene, surrounded by an abundant array of lifelike figures with silk-robed angels hovering above. The scene describes in detail the Mediterranean harbor town's multicultural population.

The installation is set in front of the eighteenth-century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid in the Museum's Medieval Sculpture Hall.

Please note: There are no tree-lighting ceremonies scheduled this year.

#MetChristmasTree

The exhibit of the crèche is made possible by the Loretta Hines Howard Fund.

Exhibition Objects

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Choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid, Rafal Amezúa from Elorrio, Iron: gilded and painted; limestone (base), Spanish — Choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid
Attributed to Rafal Amezúa
completed ca. 1763

Angel, Giuseppe Sanmartino Italian, Polychromed terracotta head; wooden limbs and wings; body of wire wrapped in tow; various fabrics, Italian, Naples — Angel
Giuseppe Sanmartino
second half 18th century

Angel, Salvatore di Franco, Polychromed terracotta head; wooden limbs and wings; body of wire wrapped in tow; silk garments and silver-gilt censer, Italian, Naples — Angel
Attributed to Salvatore di Franco
second half 18th century

Angel, Lorenzo Mosca, Polychromed terracotta head; wooden limbs and wings; body of wire wrapped in tow; various fabrics, Italian, Naples — Angel
Attributed to Lorenzo Mosca
18th century

Joined pair of cherubs, Polychromed terracotta, Italian, Naples — Joined pair of cherubs
Italian, Naples
second half 18th century

Image Credits

Marquee: Giuseppe Sanmartino (Italian, 1720–1793). Angel, second half 18th century. Polychromed terracotta head; wooden limbs and wings; body of wire wrapped in tow; various fabrics, H. 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964 (64.164.8a–c)