Artwork
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1586 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work titled *Adoration of the Magi* was executed around 1586 by the artist identified as 2912_person.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Adoration of the Magi* was executed around 1586 by the artist identified as 2912_person. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as a representative example of late‑sixteenth‑century religious imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a kneeling woman cradling an infant, evoking the biblical scene of the Virgin and Child. Surrounding them are several elegantly dressed men, traditionally interpreted as the Magi, who present gifts such as a golden cup and a small chest, emphasizing themes of reverence and offering.
Technique & Style
The image employs a pronounced contrast of light and shadow, highlighting the faces of the central figures while allowing background elements to recede. This chiaroscuro effect, combined with detailed rendering of textiles and metal objects, creates a sense of depth and focuses the viewer’s attention on the act of worship.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1586, the painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to 2912_person has been maintained in the museum’s catalogue, and the work has been referenced in scholarly surveys of devotional art from the period.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
