The Nativity painted by Defendente Ferrari in 1531, the central scene of the large polyptych on the high altar of the church of Sant'Antonio di Ranverso, is the starting point of the themed visit "Presepe!" scheduled for Sunday, December 7th at 3:30 pm. This event will allow you to discover the characters, symbols, and stories of the nativity scene.
The polyptych was created as a votive offering by the inhabitants of Moncalieri for their escape from the plague. Placed in Ranverso in January 1532 after a long and careful transport through the Piedmont countryside, it is today one of the most representative works of the Piedmontese Renaissance. The central scene depicts the Nativity, flanked by the saints protecting against the plague: Saint Anthony the Abbot and Saint Sebastian on the left, Saint Roch and Saint Bernardino of Siena on the right. The predella illustrates seven episodes from the life of Saint Anthony the Abbot, while the gilded wooden frame and the painted doors inside and out complete the magnificence of the work, which marks the overcoming of the Gothic style and the full affirmation of the Renaissance language.
