Artwork
Anbetung der Könige

Anbetung der Könige is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Giambettino Cignaroli. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the Christ Child seated on Mary’s lap, receiving homage from the Magi, who kneel and offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, a scene from the Christian New Testament in which the infant Jesus is presented with gifts by three wise men or kings. The composition centers on the Christ Child seated on Mary’s lap, receiving homage from the Magi, who kneel and offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Mary and Joseph appear in the background, framing the central event within a stable-like setting.
The iconography follows traditional representations of the Nativity’s extension, emphasizing Christ’s recognition by Gentile rulers and the recognition of his divine kingship. The inclusion of the Magi underscores themes of universal salvation and the revelation of Jesus to the nations.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1738 by Giambettino Cignaroli. It depicts the Adoration of the Magi and entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is currently housed in the Alte Pinakothek. The work’s dimensions are 70 cm in height and 47 cm in width.
The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich. Its dimensions are 47 cm in height and 70 cm in width.
The work was painted in 1738 and depicts the Adoration of the Magi.
Context
The painting Anbetung der Könige by Giambettino Cignaroli, created in 1738, depicts the adoration of the Magi and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek as part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is classified as a religious work within the broader corpus of 18th-century religious art. Scholarship situates the piece within Cignaroli's Venetian-influenced oeuvre, emphasizing his contribution to devotional painting in the pre-Romantic period.
The work's iconography and technical execution have been analyzed in studies of Venetian pictorial traditions, highlighting its role in the evolution of sacred imagery in European art.
Overview
Anbetung der Könige, painted in 1738 by Giambettino Cignaroli, is a religious artwork depicting the Adoration of the Kings. Characterized by its Rococo influences, the painting features a vibrant, indoor scene with a mix of figures in varied attire.
Technique & Style
Cignaroli employed warm, dramatic colors (deep reds, golds, earthy tones) and chiaroscuro, where pronounced light and shadow create depth and emotional contrast, highlighting certain faces while shrouding others.
Legacy
While specific impact or widespread recognition of Anbetung der Könige beyond its stylistic representation of its era is not prominently noted, it contributes to the understanding of Cignaroli's oeuvre and the transitional artistic period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giambettino Cignaroli (Verona, July 4, 1706 – Verona, December 1, 1770) was an Italian painter of the Rococo and early Neoclassic period.













