Artwork
Anbetung der Könige
Anbetung der Könige is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Francken III. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It shows the Christ Child as the central figure, receiving homage from the three Magi (wise men) who have followed a star to Bethlehem.
The painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, a standard subject in Christian art drawn from the Gospel of Matthew. It shows the Christ Child as the central figure, receiving homage from the three Magi (wise men) who have followed a star to Bethlehem. The scene symbolizes the recognition of Jesus as the promised king and savior, not only for the Jewish people but for the Gentiles, represented by the Magi from different lands.
The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh traditionally signify Christ's kingship, divinity, and future suffering. The work thus conveys the theological message of universal salvation and the revelation of God incarnate to the world.
Technique & Style
Frans Francken III executed this religious painting in 1637. The artwork is rendered on a support measuring 56.7 cm in height and 40.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition falls within the genre of religious art, specifically depicting the adoration of the Magi with the Christ Child as the central subject.
History & Provenance
Anbetung der Könige was created in 1637 by Frans Francken III as a religious painting depicting the Adoration of the Magi and the Christ Child. The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of the museum's holdings. The painting measures 56.7 cm in height by 40.5 cm in width.
The sources do not document the original commission, the early ownership chain, or any transfers of the work prior to its acquisition by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. No information is provided regarding the circumstances of its creation, the patron, or the path by which it entered the state collection.
The painting is held in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, forming part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. According to the Wikidata record for the work, the painting's inception is dated 1637-01-01, and its dimensions are recorded as 56.7 cm in height and 40.5 cm in width.
No specific accession number or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Frans Francken III, a member of the fourth generation of the prolific Francken artistic dynasty, painted Anbetung der Könige in 1637. Executed in the Flemish Baroque idiom, the canvas presents a nocturnal interior where a central female figure cradles an infant, surrounded by attendants and celestial beings. The work is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
Context
Anbetung der Könige belongs to a broader tradition of Flemish devotional imagery that emphasized narrative clarity and emotional engagement. Francken’s family was known for integrating genre elements into sacred subjects, and this piece exemplifies that synthesis, situating a biblical event within a familiar, domestic setting that would have resonated with contemporary viewers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Francken III (1607–1667) was a Flemish Baroque painter and the best known member of the fourth generation of the Francken family of artists.
