Artwork
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hendrick van Balen the Elder. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created by Hendrick van Balen the Elder in 1601, the work presents the infant Jesus as the main subject of the composition.
The painting depicts the biblical Adoration of the Magi, a religious scene centered on the Christ Child. Created by Hendrick van Balen the Elder in 1601, the work presents the infant Jesus as the main subject of the composition. The iconography includes specific details such as gemstones, which are depicted alongside the figures.
As a work of religious art, the piece represents the traditional narrative of the Magi paying homage to the newborn Christ.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1601, this religious painting by Hendrick van Balen the Elder utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 136 cm in height and 102 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the Adoration of the Magi, prominently featuring the Christ Child and incorporating detailed representations of gemstones within the scene.
History & Provenance
Hendrick van Balen the Elder created the oil-on-panel painting Adoration of the Magi in 1601. The work depicts the religious scene of the Magi adoring the Christ Child. Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The piece measures 136 cm in height and 102 cm in width.
The painting has been in the collection of the Museo del Prado. According to Wikidata records, it is held in that museum's collection and located there. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
The work was created in 1601 and is catalogued as a religious oil painting on panel measuring 136 cm in height by 102 cm in width.
Context
The Adoration of the Magi (1601) by Hendrick van Balen the Elder occupies a pivotal position at the intersection of Counter-Reformation devotional painting and early Baroque naturalism. Art historians situate this small oil on panel within van Balen's broader oeuvre as a formative influence on Anthony van Dyck's religious compositions, particularly in its intimate treatment of sacred narratives. The work's provenance at the Museo del Prado since acquisition reflects its recognized significance within Spanish royal collections, where it continues to inform scholarly discourse on Flemish artists' contributions to 17th-century European art markets and workshop practices.
Overview
Hendrick van Balen the Elder’s Adoration of the Magi (1601) is an oil painting executed on copper. The composition presents the infant Christ receiving gifts from the three Magi, surrounded by a lively crowd and a host of angels above. The work belongs to the early Baroque period and is currently held in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick van Balen or Hendrick van Balen I (c. 1573–1575 – 17 July 1632) was a Flemish Baroque painter and stained glass designer. Hendrick van Balen specialised in small cabinet pictures often painted on a copper…
