Artwork
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Augustin Hirschvogel. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Adoration of the Magi is an etching created by Augustin Hirschvogel in 1548. It is a black-and-white print that depicts a scene from the Bible.
Subject & Meaning
The etching shows the Magi gathered around the infant Jesus, presenting gifts. The scene is crowded, with figures kneeling and standing, and a building in the background topped with a star.
Technique & Style
Hirschvogel used lines and shading to create depth in the composition, a notable achievement for its time. The work is characteristic of the Danube School, a group of 16th-century artists known for their landscapes and biblical scenes.
History & Provenance
Hirschvogel, a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer, produced this etching as part of a series of small landscape etchings between 1545 and 1549.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
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