"Neapolitan Nativity Figure: Balthazar - Terracotta, Naples, 18th Century"
This elegant 18th-century Neapolitan terracotta depicts one of the Magi, likely Balthazar, in a dignified and solemn pose. Finely modeled and polychrome, it embodies all the refinement of southern Italian devotional art. The figure, draped in an ermine cloak, wears a finely crafted crown and turban. His expressive face, as well as the richness of his attire and accessories such as the censer, attest to his quality and the craftsmanship of his maker. This unique piece is part of the tradition of Neapolitan nativity scenes, where each figure participated in a lively scene, both popular and deeply spiritual. 
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato