Artwork
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The Adoration of the Magi is a panel painting by Albrecht Dürer, created with oil paint. It measures just over a metre wide and is considered a significant work in Dürer's oeuvre.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a scene where a group of figures gather around a baby, with a woman in blue holding the child and a man in red kneeling beside her. A dark-skinned figure stands on the right, counterbalancing the other figures on the left.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed chiaroscuro, a lighting technique that creates strong contrasts between light and dark, to achieve a three-dimensional effect on faces and fabrics. The painting showcases rich colors and detailed textures, blending northern and Italianate conventions.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by Frederick the Wise for the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg, the painting was later gifted to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in 1603. It remained in the imperial collection until 1792, when it was acquired by the Uffizi in exchange for another artwork.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
