Ulderico Pinfildi

Ceramicist

©Claudia Frijio

©Antonio Allocca

Staging sacred representations

Ulderico is a great master of the Neapolitan crib
He is inspired by the history of Italian art
Caravaggio is a central influence on his work

Raised in his parents' workshop, masters of majolica, Ulderico Pinfildi was trained in modelling and restoring ceramics. When the crib art boom exploded in Naples in the 1980s, Ulderico was fascinated by this ancient tradition and began to take an interest in the origins and history of the crib, studying its characteristics, materials and techniques for modelling human anatomy. He opened his own workshop in the late 1980s. Today, with so many years of experience behind him, he is considered one of the great masters of this art, and his pieces are collected all over the world. For his scenes, Ulderico prefers the 18th century settings of Bourbon Naples, referring directly to the birth of the Neapolitan crib: these are dramatic theatrical installations in which the figures, inspired by the history of great Italian art, are placed as actors who narrate the story of the Incarnation.

Interview

©Claudia Frijio

©Antonio Allocca

How has your profession evolved?: At first I used to copy other works and in Naples there are many sources (San Martino museum, private collections). This is precious to discover the secrets of the masters of the past. Later, I felt the desire to express myself, to tell stories, to transform my thoughts into an object visible to all.
How do you express creativity and innovation with such a traditional art?: The most artistic aspect consists in being a director of figures telling a story. The innovation certainly consists in introducing personal stories into the crib, a slice of life in 18th century Naples, while narrating the stories of the Nativity. There are many levels of interpretation.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Great art, painting and sculpture are an inexhaustible source: Raphael for the Virgin, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Sammartino with his Veiled Christ, Bernini's marbles and, crucial for me, Caravaggio. They are essential reference points for modelling the anatomy of the human body.
Why is Caravaggio's influence so key to you?: It was the discovery that Caravaggio's figures are cribs in themselves, and that the Neapolitan crib is Caravaggio-esque. His figures are so dramatic, and he brings great theatricality to his work. I worked on his paintings, reinterpreting the figures and quotes at the service of crib narration.

Ulderico Pinfildi is a master artisan: he began his career in 1978 and he started teaching in 1996