Artwork
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacopo Bassano. It dates from 1555 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jacopo Bassano’s oil on canvas, dated 1555, presents a crowded Nativity scene titled “Adoration of the Magi.” The work is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on public display. The composition gathers several figures around the infant Christ, set against a rugged landscape illuminated by strong light and shadow.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the biblical episode in which the three Magi present gifts to the newborn Jesus. Mary is shown holding the child, while the three elderly travelers—each dressed in richly draped robes—approach with offerings. A horse, tethered nearby, adds a sense of travel and humility to the narrative.
Technique & Style
Bassano employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with bright highlights to model the figures and give them three‑dimensional presence. Light catches the baby’s face and the horse’s mane, while the surrounding cliffs recede into darkness, creating depth. The palette of earthy greens, browns and blues reinforces the naturalistic setting.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the mid‑sixteenth century, the painting has been part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in Vienna. Its documented presence in the museum’s collection confirms its preservation and continuous public accessibility, providing scholars and visitors alike with insight into Bassano’s late‑Renaissance religious oeuvre.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Bassano was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school. He was born and died in Bassano del Grappa, and took the village as his surname. Having trained in the workshop of his father, Francesco the…
