In depth
What it is
Nativity is the name by which the exhibition of artistic nativity scenes by Ivan Dimitrov is known, set up in Bologna during the Christmas period. The most recent edition, Nativity 2024, occupied the Sala Museale Possati inside the Complesso del Baraccano, at via Santo Stefano 119, in the Santo Stefano district. It is not a single nativity scene, but a true exhibition route that brings together dozens of scenes created by the Bulgarian sculptor, settled in Bologna, where he has rediscovered and revived an ancient city nativity tradition widespread in noble houses between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
What makes it special
The heart of the exhibition consists of over 300 polychrome terracotta sculptures, modelled and hand-painted by Dimitrov, many of them previously unseen and created especially for the occasion. Beyond the traditional Nativity scene, the route extends to large scenic settings dedicated to masterpieces of ancient painting, with figures that dialogue with the worlds of Dürer, Bruegel, Rubens, Leonardo, Rembrandt and Tiepolo. It is this interweaving of nativity art and art history, combined with the quantity and care of the terracotta figures, that distinguishes Dimitrov's work from a traditional nativity scene. The venue also contributes to the appeal of the visit: the Sala Museale Possati is located in an ancient fifteenth-century complex originally built as a devotional chapel and later became a conservatory for orphan girls, today home to the offices of the Quartiere Santo Stefano.
Origins and history
Ivan Dimitrov is a sculptor of Bulgarian origin who lives and works in Bologna, where he has brought back to life the Bolognese nativity art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The artist's connection with the Baraccano is long-standing: between 2005 and 2009 the Sale Museali del Baraccano hosted his exhibition Presepi e Omaggio ai Grandi Maestri annually, promoted by the Quartiere Santo Stefano. In subsequent years Dimitrov's Christmas exhibition moved to other venues in Bologna, including Casa Seracchioli, the Basilica di San Petronio, the Cattedrale di San Pietro and Palazzo Isolani, before returning to the Baraccano with the Nativity 2024 edition, curated by Maria Gabriella Milani of the Galleria Studio Santo Stefano and organised by the Associazione AICS together with the gallery, with the support of the Comune di Bologna. The exact year in which Dimitrov created his first terracotta nativity scene is not documented with precision.
What to see
Visitors follow an exhibition that begins with the classic Nativity scene, with the Holy Family, shepherds and Magi modelled in terracotta and painted with warm, natural colours. Continuing, the route opens onto broader, more scenic settings, populated by characters and compositions that recall works by great masters of European painting, from Leonardo's Adoration of the Magi to the Flemish worlds of Bruegel. The sculptures, numerous and meticulous in their details of clothing, faces and architecture, are arranged in dioramas that recreate landscapes, interiors and urban views, in a narrative that combines the popular devotion of the nativity scene with classical figurative culture.
When and how to visit
The exhibition is set up every year during the Christmas period, generally from early December until Epiphany. In the Nativity 2024 edition, open from 8 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, opening hours were 9:30-12:30 and 15:00-18:00 on weekdays, 9:30-12:30 and 14:30-19:00 on public holidays, with hours of 9:30-12:30 and 15:00-19:00 on Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission was free. For the current year's edition it is always advisable to check updated dates and times on the artist's website or at the offices of the Quartiere Santo Stefano, as these may vary from one edition to another.
