«Perhaps the most iconic Met holiday tradition is the annual installation of the Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche, on view through January 6. Starting in 1964, Loretta Hines Howard has donated more than two hundred eighteenth-century Neapolitan crèche figures to the Museum, and they have been on display each holiday season for almost forty years.»
The layout of the crèche figures changes annually as their number continues to grow, but the display always combines three basic elements that are traditional to eighteenth-century Naples: the Nativity, the procession of the three Magi, and, finally, colorful peasants and townspeople engaged in their daily tasks.
As the year draws to a close, we in Teen Programs would like to share some of our other favorite holiday- and winter-themed artworks in the Museum's collection.
Ice-Skating in Central Park
Lithographed by Lyman W. Atwater (American, 1835–1891), after a painting by Charles Parsons (American, 1821–1910). Central Park, Winter—The Skating Pond, 1862. Hand-colored lithograph; Image: 18 1/8 x 26 9/16 in. (46 x 67.5 cm), sheet: 21 7/8 x 29 7/8 in. (55.6 x 75.9 cm), storage (mat size): 30 x 40 in. (76.2 x 101.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Adele S. Colgate, 1962 (63.550.266)
This image shows that ice-skating in Central Park has been a winter tradition for over 150 years! It was originally printed by Currier and Ives in 1862 as a part of a series of 4,300 objects depicting every animal, mineral, and vegetable across the U.S.
Happy Hanukkah!
Mark Podwal (American, born 1945). Menorah, 1995. Gouache and colored pencil on paper; 14 x 11 1/8 in. (35.6 x 28.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Gift of 134 Artists, by exchange, 1996 (1996.329.1)
Mark Podwal's work focuses on Jewish legend, tradition, and history. He painted this menorah, which is a traditional symbol of the Jewish faith, with the blue-and-white color scheme typically found in Hanukkah decorations.
Snow Creatures
Yu Ming (Chinese, 1884–1935). Making a Snow-Lion, dated 1921. China. Album leaf; ink and color on paper; 14 7/8 x 9 1/4 in. (37.8 x 23.5 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, in memory of La Ferne Hatfield Ellsworth, 1986 (1986.267.147)
Yu Ming's album leaf depicting children making a snow lion is one of our favorite winter scenes in the Met's collection!
A Fashionable Winter
Shannon Rodgers. Evening coat, ca. 1968. American. Wool, fur; Length at CB (a): 60 in. (152.4 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Jerry Silverman, Inc., 1969 (2009.300.481a, b)
How about wearing this to your next holiday party? This coat, created by American designer Shannon Rodgers in the sixties, was influenced by the Hollywood glamour style that was popular during the 1930s.
Snowflakes
Wilson Alwyn Bentley (American, 1865–1931). [Snow Crystal], ca. 1910. Gelatin silver print; Image: 2 15/16 x 3 9/16 in. (7.4 x 9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Josh Rosenthal Fund, 2005 (2005.55.3)
Wilson Alwyn Bentley, a self-educated farmer from Vermont, was the first person to ever photograph a single snowflake using a microscope fitted to a bellows camera. What do you think he did to make sure that the snowflake would survive the photo shoot?
We hope that you enjoyed our winter-themed images! Have a wonderful holiday and we will see you in the New Year!