The Bambino Gesu of Arenzano locally known as Il Grande Piccinino (English: The Great Child Jesus of Arenzano) is a Roman Catholic image of the Child Jesus venerated by the Genoese faithful.[1]
The image takes its iconography from a painting of Infant Jesus of Prague which was brought by the Carmelite Order who wanted to propagate its devotion in the area. Italian Marchioness Delfina Gavotti of Savona used her personal funds to build a statuary image in 1902, which merited a Pontifical decree of coronation in 1924, partly due to her pious fanaticism to the Child Jesus under this title.
Various miraculous claims are associated with the image by its pilgrims, now preserved within the basilica. The image is celebrated with an annual religious feast on 1 September.
The Marquise Delfina Gavotti of Savona was married to Marquis Girolamo of the prominent Gavotti clan. They had one son who died at stillbirth, Pietro Gavotti, which may have encouraged her fanatical devotion to the Child Jesus. The Marquise Delfina of Gavotti was also a prominent patroness of the Marian shrine of Santuario della Consolata, where she was listed in the shrine literature Missioni Consolata, (The third consecutive year, issue #8) as a generous patroness of the parish building published in August 1901.