DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62133#0194
178
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
crowd, lost in the gloom and vastness of the church •> that
brilliant focus of light, with lesser masses of light, here and
there diffusing itself through the picture; light catching
upon the shaft of a tall candlestick in the foreground, and
upon an upturned white face. It was a wonderful scene
altogether, and the responses of the multitude most solemn
in the gloom.
On going out, I looked into a side chapel, where I per-
ceived a crowd. There, decked out with fir-trees, was a
curious erection of small cottages in the Tyrolean style;
and before these cottages stood a group of large dolls
dressed up in remarkably gay draperies. This group repre-
sented the arrival of Mary and Joseph at Bethlehem : Mary
and Joseph in the dresses of pilgrims, with huge pilgrim
hats on, and tall staves in their hands ; the ass, with pan-
niers containing Joseph’s axe and carpenter’s tools, follow-
ing them : a man and woman in modern costume, with very
mournful countenances, receive them, standing upon a very
green carpet, representing turf, while cattle are grazing
round them.
I understand that a series of these scenes (which are
common at the same time of the year in all Catholic
countries) will be thus exhibited to admiring crowds, until
Christmas; there will be, no doubt, the adoration of the
Magi, the announcement to the Shepherds, etc. The crowd
seemed very much edified; and a priest stood with a money-
box in his hand, ready to receive alms.
On the Sunday before Christmas Eve was held what is
called, in the Munich dialect, the “ Christ-Kindle-Didt"
that is, the Little Christ-child Fair. The fair commenced
at noon on Sunday; and, sinner that I am, I went and
bought my little Christmas presents on that day,—which
presents, be it remarked, have given such hearty satisfac-
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
crowd, lost in the gloom and vastness of the church •> that
brilliant focus of light, with lesser masses of light, here and
there diffusing itself through the picture; light catching
upon the shaft of a tall candlestick in the foreground, and
upon an upturned white face. It was a wonderful scene
altogether, and the responses of the multitude most solemn
in the gloom.
On going out, I looked into a side chapel, where I per-
ceived a crowd. There, decked out with fir-trees, was a
curious erection of small cottages in the Tyrolean style;
and before these cottages stood a group of large dolls
dressed up in remarkably gay draperies. This group repre-
sented the arrival of Mary and Joseph at Bethlehem : Mary
and Joseph in the dresses of pilgrims, with huge pilgrim
hats on, and tall staves in their hands ; the ass, with pan-
niers containing Joseph’s axe and carpenter’s tools, follow-
ing them : a man and woman in modern costume, with very
mournful countenances, receive them, standing upon a very
green carpet, representing turf, while cattle are grazing
round them.
I understand that a series of these scenes (which are
common at the same time of the year in all Catholic
countries) will be thus exhibited to admiring crowds, until
Christmas; there will be, no doubt, the adoration of the
Magi, the announcement to the Shepherds, etc. The crowd
seemed very much edified; and a priest stood with a money-
box in his hand, ready to receive alms.
On the Sunday before Christmas Eve was held what is
called, in the Munich dialect, the “ Christ-Kindle-Didt"
that is, the Little Christ-child Fair. The fair commenced
at noon on Sunday; and, sinner that I am, I went and
bought my little Christmas presents on that day,—which
presents, be it remarked, have given such hearty satisfac-