The Adoration of the Magi
1508
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Italian 16th Century
A 16th-century Italian sculptor left us small bronze works in dark brown and gold.
See the richer artist page1508
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Adoration of the Magi is a 1508 ink by Italian 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white scene packs a lot into one frame. In the center, three men on horseback—one carrying a gift box—bow toward a woman holding a baby. Around them, a crowd of townspeople and animals fills the streets. Behind them, a castle and bridge loom over a busy town, with people walking, riding, and watching from walls. Notice how the artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows and textures—like the horses’ muscles or the castle’s bricks. This is how they created depth without color. Want to see how this technique works up close? Check out *engraving*.
A 16th-century Italian sculptor left us small bronze works in dark brown and gold.
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