Alejandra Martos, distinguished restorer of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid, has just completed arduous work on The Virgin of Humility, a panel by Fra Angelico from the Thyssen collection that rests in the MNAC in Barcelona. The reason for this painting comes to us specifically to ask you how you celebrate Christmas, that is, the birth of Jesus, the middle daughter of Raphael and Natalia Figueroa.
“I always spend Christmas Eve at my parents' house and there I coincide with the siblings who may come, because sometimes you have to alternate with your partners' families, others establish a day here and another day there... so we can be all or half (laughs). If we all go, up to eight grandchildren get together at my parents' house. There is not as much fuss as it might seem because several of them are already quite old.” Theirs, Manuela and Carlos, are already 19 and 17.
They don't wear suits or long dresses, but the Martos Figueroas like to take care of their presence on such important dates. And the table, of course: “We usually have turkey and a variety of seafood for dinner, depending on the market. And then, classics like ham, nougat… And some delicious dessert.” This Christmas will be special for the Martos-Figueroas: Manuel and Amelia Bono happily resolved their differences and are back together. Will the myth give them a song? If Raphael remains faithful to his own tradition, it is better not to expect it:
“At home my father never sings. Not on Christmas or any other day. If you asked him, he would know how to dodge the issue (laughs). Don't think we're much into singing Christmas carols, you know, at the blacksmith's house, wooden knife. Well, yes we can sing but being a bit silly (laughs). We give everything on Christmas Eve so on Christmas Day, if possible, we meet depending on how we have divided ourselves that year, but it is always a quieter day.”
