Artwork

Copy after the fresco <i>The Procession of the Kings</i> (wall with the <i>Procession of the Middle King, Balthasar</i>), Benozzo Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi Chapel, Florence

Copy after the fresco <i>The Procession of the Kings</i> (wall with the <i>Procession of the Middle King, Balthasar</i>), Benozzo Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi Chapel, Florence, by Benozzo Gozzoli, watercolor
Copy after the fresco <i>The Procession of the Kings</i> (wall with the <i>Procession of the Middle King, Balthasar</i>), Benozzo Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi Chapel, Florence, by Benozzo Gozzoli, watercolor

Copy after the fresco <i>The Procession of the Kings</i> (wall with the <i>Procession of the Middle King, Balthasar</i>), Benozzo Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi Chapel, Florence is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Benozzo Gozzoli. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The original was painted by Benozzo Gozzoli in the 1400s, but this version is from 1881.

This watercolour is a copy of a famous fresco from Florence. It shows Balthasar, one of the Three Kings, riding in a colorful parade. The original was painted by Benozzo Gozzoli in the 1400s, but this version is from 1881.

An Austrian artist named Edward Kaiser made the copy. The Arundel Society asked him to do it, but the image was never printed. It was meant to help people learn about old art.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

Overview

This watercolour, created around 1881, is a copy of a fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli. The original, part of the Procession of the Magi cycle, adorns the chapel of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence.

Subject & Meaning

The watercolour depicts Balthasar, the Middle King, participating in a vibrant procession. The scene is rich in detail and colour, capturing the essence of Gozzoli's original fresco.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the copy reflects the medium's characteristic transparency and fluidity. Edward Kaiser, the Austrian artist responsible, aimed to faithfully reproduce Gozzoli's work.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by the Arundel Society, a organisation dedicated to promoting knowledge of European Old Masters through reproductions, Kaiser's copy was created in 1881. Although it remained unpublished, it testifies to the society's efforts to disseminate art historical knowledge.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Benozzo Gozzoli

Artist

Benozzo Gozzoli

Benozzo Gozzoli (pronounced ; born Benozzo di Lese; c. 1421 – 4 October 1497) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. A pupil of Fra Angelico, Gozzoli is best known for a series of murals in the Magi Chapel of…