Painted almost five centuries ago, the Issenheim ~tarpiece by Matthias Griinewald is considered by some scholars as one of the greatest works of Western art It is housed in the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France, a channing old city in Alsace, near the German border.
The panels were painted between 1512 and 1516 for the altar of a hospital and monastery run by Antonine monks in the town oflssenheim, about 15 miles south of Colmar Antonines took their name from Saint Anthony the Abbot, a fourth century monk, venerated for his healing of the sick, especially of dreaded diseases . Their hospital treated primarily those afflicted with a painful and often fatal skin affliction accompanied by convulsions called " Saint Anthony ' s fire ." In Griinewald ' s time, it was not known that the disease came from a poisonous fungus that clung to rye and was inadvertently pound into bread flour . Grunewald's altarpiece helped the monks in the psychological aspects of their healing by reminding patients that Christ and Saint Anthony too had suffered, but they also had triumphed
Not all of the altarpiece was by Grunewald. The painter was commissioned to complement an existing display of wooden figures of Saint Anthony and other saints associated with healing carved by Nicholas ofHaguenau.
As originally conceived, the elaborately carved shrine was composed of two sets of folding wings and three views The dosed stage of the polyptych was of a visibly tortured Christ in a Calvary scene surrounded on either side by two other saints who knew suffering: Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony. When that panel was opened, there was a middle presentation of celebration scenes : the Annunciation ; the Nativity, and the Resurrection. In turn, these scenes opened to reveal Nicholas of Haguenau' s wood carvings and two more Grunewald paintings on the life of St. Anthony. The celebration scenes were opened on feasts of the Virgin, Christmas, and Easter.
On our cover, Grunewald ' s Nativity shows Mother and Child sitting in an enclosed garden, a symbol of Mary's virginity. Farther back on the right, angels bring the good news to the shepherds While Mary contemplates her Child, Jesus holds up two golden beads of the glorious rosary The Child ' s tattered swaddling clothes, in contrast to Mary ' s rich apparel , brings to mind the crucified Christ ' s loin cloth depicted on the front panel.
The altarpiece has had an eventful history. First, Emperor Rodolph II in 1597 tried to buy it; then the Grand Elector Maximilian of Bavaria at the beginning of the 17th century made an offer, but that too was refused . Between 1651 and 1654, during the unsettled period after the Thirty
Years War , the work was removed to a safe place at Thann. In 1793 , during the frenzy of the French Revolution, mobs stormed the Issenheim complex and looted the chapel. The sculpted base and crown of the altarpiece vanished mysteriously. Panels were dismantled. Through the interception of two government officials , all of the paintings and many of the sculptures were saved They first were stored in the former Jesuit College in Colmar
The Dominican convent, which today shelters the Unterlinden Museum and the Issenheim Altarpiece, dates back to the thirteenth century. Started by two widowed noblewomen, the convent became one of the most important religious centers of Alsace. However, during the turmoil of the French Revolution , the nuns left the convent, and the buildings fell into disrepair .
In 1846, an archivist of Colmar, Louis Hugot, gave the convent a new life He founded a society of scholars named the Schongauer Society, after Martin Schongauer, a fifteenth century Colmar painter and engraver The society, administering art objects returned after the French Revolution, including the Issenheim Altarpiece, restored the Unterlinden convent buildings for their museum.
During World War I, Germany took the piece, but after negotiations, it was returned With safety threats during World War II, the work was moved several times. Finally, at war ' s end, German prisoners and Allied soldiers returned the altarpiece to Colmar where it remains
The Unterlinden Museum is open daily from April to October, 9 a.m . to 6 p .m .; from November to March, it is dosed Tuesdays, and the hours are 10 a m to 5 p.m A special exhibit, Les dominicaines d 'Unter/inden, is on view December 2000 to June 2001.
Cover photo by 0 Zimmennan Used with pennission of th e Musee D 'Unterlinden, Colmar, France
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Dear Friends,
Each year, as you send in information about exhibits , I become more and more amazed at the new and wonderful ways you and your communities celebrate the Christmas season and the birth of Jesus . Musical productions, jazz Nativities , extravagant exhibits, children ' s theater, huge outdoor displays All respectful remembrances of a special night long ago
Indeed, it is a wondrous time of year A time to put aside , even if temporarily, the disappointments, problems, hardships of our mortal existence
Would we extend this period ifwe could? Assuredly so And perhaps, that is why we creche people are somewhat luckier than others With the Nativity in our thoughts throughout the year, a bit of the magic of Christmas stays with us . Rita Bacher, Publis her
THE NATIVITY AS A LIFE GIVING FORCE
In the village of Bamenda, Che Emmanuel creates creches reflecting the culture and heritage of his native northwestern Cameroon, a country on the west coast of central Africa. Crafted from recycled brass, these Nativity sets highlight his skills as a designer and brass sculptor.
Designing is his favorite part of the process . He says, "That is where creation starts " He uses bees ' wax to sculpt a model of each Nativity figure. He then coats the wax model with clay that hardens as it dries. To create the figures , he uses brass which he has previously collected as scrap and melted down into chunks Now these brass chunks are reheated to a liquid form and poured into a hole in the top of the mold, displacing the wax.
After the brass cools, the clay is chipped away and the figures are smoothed, polished, and stained with a dark finish. This almost magical process is called lost-wax casting, and is one of the most ancient methods of crafting metals . Emmanuel is a member of the Presbyterian Handicraft Centre (Prescraft). Begun in the early 1960s by a Swiss pastor serving in Cameroon, Prescraft is now an official project of the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon. More than 700 artisans with few other employment options earn fair income creating handicrafts and musical instruments Prescraft also is committed to improving village life so artisans like Emmanuel can stay in their home villages and not move to overcrowded cities.
Besides providing work for himself, five other artisans are employed in his small workshop. He always is looking for more orders and says, "When there is no work, you remain poor. But when there is work, you are better."
Ten Thousand Villages provides an important market for Emmanuel and his coworkers, giving work to artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. At the same time , Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. This income helps pay for food, education, health care, and housing.
Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee, the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America. The program has helped people around the world since 1946.
Thousands of volunteers in Canada and the United States work with Ten Thousand Villages in their home communities.
Ten Thousand Villages offers creche sets from twentyone Third World countries, many reflecting the cultures of their creators . For a list of stores , call 717-859-8100 or visit their web site: www.tenthousandvillages com.
MONTH OF CHRISTMAS IN ASSONET VILLAGE
For many years , Father Tim Goldrick of St. Bernard ' s parish has displayed his hundreds of folk art creches at the LaSalette shrine in Attleboro, Massachusetts . This year, his display forms the centerpiece of Christmas in the Village , a joint venture presentation of St. Bernard ' s Catholic Church and the United Church of Assonet (Congregational) in Assonet Village.
Father Tim's vast collection can be viewed at St. Bernard's, starting December 16, while simultaneously, the auditorium of North Church features a 200 square foot mechanized display of Les santons de France.
The Village Kids Theater Company , an ecumenical youth group, will present "The Little Saints of Christmas," a retelling of the French santon story Award winning musician and writer, Rev Bill Comeau, pastor of United Church, has rewritten the tale which will mingle cast and audience as it moves in its journey through the village
Also featured will be Elaine Canty's Creche Lady 's Christmas Shoppe, and an appraisal service of Christmas items by members of The Golden Glow of Christmas Past
In addition, there will be concerts, religious services, story times, decorating competitions, and surprises.
Festivities start December 10 and continue through December 31 . Schedules and details appear in the Village website : www.christmasinthevillage .com .
This unique Holy Family scene, reflecting the culture ofhis native village, is the work of Che Emmanuel of Bamenda, Cameroon Available through Ten Thousand Villages. Tel : 717-859-8100
FROM OUR READERS
Customs that develop into traditions come into our consciousness at a very early age. Yet, often when a custom is presented at home, it is often presented as a "do not touch" one that almost negates its value for a very young child. To be more specific, when the creche is brought out for display at Christmas, it is often accompanied by the admonition, "Look, but don't touch."
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that toddlers play with Nativities made of fragile materials. But we do send a message by placing the creche off limits.
The solution? Let them play with a creche which can't be hurt and gets them involved with the story. Here are some that I have found in stores and internet auction sites. In the fifties, the Marx Toy Company actuaJly made a creche as a toy which can be found now only on "EBay". Ideal toys also made a rubber Jesus in a manger.
One of the best I've found recently is the Playmobile creche and three wise men sets (Stock Nos. 3996 and 3997). For about $25 US, kids can play and use their imagination about the whole Nativity event. Playmobile is a German toy maker with limited availability in the U.S.
Imagine if Mattel decided to diverge from Barbie and Ken and create a reasonably priced creche toy for our young folks. What a challenge, but what a wonderful change.
Michael Whalen , Clinton Township, Michigan
1!lecember 1-10,2000
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily
Experience the holiday gemiitlichkeit of a traditional European Christmas marker, reminiscent of the centuries-old German Cristkindlesmarkt. Authentic gifts, toys, ornaments and food specialties from more than 60 international vendors.
Tented on the grounds of The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake,Wisconsin
Call 800-876-3399 or see www osthoff com for information. Admission $3.
BOOKS & GIFTS FOR GIVING
Compiled by Judith Davis
This is a partial list of the extensive bibliography compiled by Judith Davis, El Cerrito, California.. Future issues of Creche Herald wi/l continue to feature fascinating books on the Nativity.
Angel Tree Advent Calendar. Depicts Metropolitan Museum's beloved Angel Tree, with 24 windows that open to reveal Creche figures. Inside, a Bible Christmas story . From the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
A Christmas Carousel. Francesca Crespi. 1999 . Pop-up, carousel advent calendar, which opens to tie together, producing 5-sided Nativity story.
The Christmas Creche. Elaine Cannon. 1998. Devotional readings accompanied by Nativity scenes from collection of Holly Zenger. Available from Holly Zenger. E-mail: HOLLYZEN@aol.com.
Christmas in Pennsylvania. A Folk-Cultural Story. Alfred L. Shoemaker. 1999. Includes origins and stories of the Moravian Christmas Putz.
Err,gebirgische Volkskunst-Popular Arts and Crafts from the Err,gebirge Mountains. Hellmut Bitz Good overview of German craft items, including Nativities. (Order at 1877-368-5299)
Krippen, Nativity Scenes, Creches. Nina Gockerell. 1998. Nativities from the collection of the Bavarian National Museum, Munich, Germany.
www.Nativities.com has the Internet's largest selection of unique handmade nativities from around the world.
Our specialty is unique wood-carved nativities from Poland.
We offer hand crafted nativities made of wood , stone, clay, metal, bronze , paint, and wax . We can even drop - ship your gift to anywhere in the w o r l d
NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST IMPORTER of SANTONS by MARCEL CARBONEL
Santons de 
