Artwork
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Raffaello Botticini. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The Adoration of the Magi is a tempera painting created by Raffaello Botticini in 1498. It is an early Renaissance work held in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a crowded scene centered around a woman holding a baby, surrounded by figures in various attire, some on horseback. The setting combines elements of a grand building and outdoor courtyard, with a distant seascape and hillside.
Technique & Style
Botticini employed bright colors, including reds, blues, and golds, to emphasize the central figures. The woman and baby are elevated on a platform, drawing attention to them. The surrounding figures are engaged and attentive, conveying a sense of significance.
History & Provenance
Raffaello Botticini, trained in his father Francesco's workshop, was active in Florence and its surrounding areas. He later took over his father's workshop and completed commissions for churches in Empoli.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raffaello Botticini (1474–after 1520) was an Italian Renaissance painter active in Florence and its environs.
The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
Christ Presented to the People
The Life of Saint Genevieve
The Life of Saint Apollonia
The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; Cherub Holding Cornucopias of Cherries (recto and verso)
The adoration of the magi
The Crippled and Sick Cured at the Tomb of Saint Nicholas
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus
The Last Supper
Jesus amongst the Doctors of the Law