Artwork
Star of Kings, A Night Piece
Star of Kings, A Night Piece is a print by the Baroque artist Jan Jansz van de Velde. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Star of Kings, A Night Piece is a print depicting a festive procession on a winter's night in a Dutch town.
Subject & Meaning
The scene represents the Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, a holiday commemorating the journey of the three Magi to the Christ child, guided by the Star of Bethlehem. In the 17th-century Netherlands, this event was reenacted by townspeople in candlelit processions.
Technique & Style
The print employs chiaroscuro, a technique characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, to capture the warm glow of torches and the star amidst the dark winter night.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Jansz van de Velde (1620–1662) was a Dutch artist, born in Haarlem.
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