Child Prodigies
Linda D’Addario, sculptor
Jane Macdonald, dress
Artists for Hestia Creations
USA

Christmas lore knows no boundaries. It puts the holy family under a thatched roof but places sheep, shepherds and camel on a lustrous landing of pure gold. The artist has also added two figures which ordinarily steer clear of paupers and beasts. We notice, at some distance from the manger, the presence of Saint Nicholas of Myra and Mozart. What an odd couple, indeed!

But here they are, child prodigies, to pay tribute to one of their own. As legend goes, only three days after birth Nicholas stands upright in his bathtub, and distributes his entire fortune at a tender age to the poor. He is even better known for throwing three golden balls into the home of three impoverished maidens, allowing them to marry well. Mozart, the other child prodigy, showed exceptional musical talent at an early age, and was taken--only six years old--on a concert tour of Europe by his father. He not only composed some six hundred complete works, but was also a generous man, often depleting his own resources to help out a friend. The third child prodigy is the Christ child. We don't know about any physical prowess or artistic talents of his, but he was similarly generous: he gave his life and reputation to be one of us.