Artwork
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Fontebasso. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Francesco Fontebasso's oil painting depicts the biblical narrative of the Adoration of the Magi, a central theme in religious art. The composition features the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child as the focal point, surrounded by the three Biblical Magi, Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, presenting gifts to the infant Jesus, enacting the traditional moment of homage described in scripture.
Technique & Style
Francesco Fontebasso's Adoration of the Magi (1748) is executed in oil on canvas and measures 107 cm in height and 173.5 cm in width.
Overview
The work showcases Fontebasso's Venetian training and his engagement with the dramatic and luminous qualities characteristic of his era.
Francesco Fontebasso, an Italian artist active during the late-Baroque and Rococo periods, completed Adoration of the Magi around 1748. This oil painting depicts the biblical narrative of the Magi's visit to the Christ Child. The work showcases Fontebasso's Venetian training and his engagement with the dramatic and luminous qualities characteristic of his era. It is currently housed in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
History & Provenance
Trained by Sebastiano Ricci and influenced by the prominent Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Fontebasso developed a distinctive style within the Venetian school. While primarily active in his native Venice, his reputation extended beyond Italy. Later in his career, in 1761, he received a significant commission to contribute ceiling paintings and decorative elements to the opulent Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, demonstrating his international recognition.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Fontebasso (4 October 1707 – 31 May 1769) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque or Rococo period of Venice.
