Artwork
De geboorte en de aanbidding van de Wijzen
De geboorte en de aanbidding van de Wijzen is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of Affligem. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
De geboorte en de aanbidding van de Wijzen (1497) is a Northern Renaissance oil painting on panel attributed to the Master of Affligem, an anonymous South Netherlandish artist active in Brussels. The work combines two biblical scenes: the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene Nativity scene with the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph kneeling beside Jesus, set against a stone building with a visible distant landscape. The concurrent Adoration of the Magi is hinted at by a king approaching in ornate robes, amidst gathered angels and shepherds.
Technique & Style
The artist utilized oil paint to achieve depth and texture, emphasizing rough stone walls and soft clothing folds. The composition employs chiaroscuro, leveraging strong light and dark contrasts to enhance visual appeal.
History & Provenance
Created around 1497, the painting is part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium's collection. The Master of Affligem was active in Brussels between 1470 and 1500.
Context
As a Northern Renaissance work, it reflects the period's attention to detail and the integration of multiple biblical narratives within a single scene, characteristic of the region's artistic tendencies.
Legacy
While specific influence or notable exhibitions are not highlighted in available information, the painting contributes to the understanding of the Master of Affligem's style and the broader Northern Renaissance movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of Affligem or Master of the Joseph Sequence (working c. 1470–1500) was an accomplished painter of the South Netherlandish school, apparently working in Brussels, whose name is not known, but whose hand can…
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Continue through works from the same source collection.
Anbetung der Hl. Drei Könige
The Adoration of the Kings
Anbetung der Könige
Anbetung der Heiligen Drei Könige
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Bladelin Triptych Nativity (central panel)
Adoration of the Magi before the stable on the hill
Nativity
Anbetung der Hl. Drei Könige
Anbetung der Könige
The Adoration of the Shepherds