Artwork
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This drawing depicts a scene from the biblical narrative of the Magi's visit to the newborn Jesus, executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over red and black chalk on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is the Adoration of the Magi, a key episode in Christian iconography, where three wise men pay homage to Jesus, symbolizing the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah by the non-Jewish world.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Murillo's use of pen and ink for detailed lines, combined with brown wash for shading and red and black chalk for underdrawing, characteristic of 17th-century Spanish draughtsmanship.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1653, the drawing's early ownership history is not detailed in the provided facts, though it is attributed to the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
Context
Produced during the Spanish Golden Age, this drawing reflects the religious themes prevalent in Murillo's oeuvre and the artistic techniques of his time.
Legacy
As a specific legacy of this drawing is not provided, its impact can be inferred through Murillo's overall influence on subsequent European religious art.
Artist & collection
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
The Holy Family
The Holy Family
Madonna and Child with Angels, Saint Benedict, and Saint Scholastica
Adoration of the Magi
Holy Family with Saint Anne and Female Head in Profile
The Holy Family with Saint Philip Neri in Adoration, an Angel, and Putti
The Virgin and Child Surrounded by Saints and Angels
The Nativity with Saints Francis and Agnes
The Madonna Adoring the Child, with an Angel
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi