Who painted Adoration of the Magi?

Adoration of the Magi was painted by Jacopo Bassano in 1568.

Where can I see Adoration of the Magi?

Adoration of the Magi is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Adoration of the Magi?

Adoration of the Magi is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Adoration of the Magi

Jacopo Bassano , 1568

Adoration of the Magi is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacopo Bassano. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, a religious subject in which the three Magi pay homage to the newly born Christ Child.

The painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, a religious subject in which the three Magi pay homage to the newly born Christ Child. According to the Wikidata record, the work's main subject is explicitly identified as the adoration of the Magi, and the imagery specifically depicts the adoration of the Magi together with the Christ Child, placing the composition within the long Christian iconographic tradition of venerating the Nativity through the visit of the wise men bearing gifts.

The scene carries traditional symbolic weight: the Magi represent the recognition of Christ's kingship and divinity by the Gentile world, while their offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh prefigure his royal, priestly, and mortal roles. The presence of the Christ Child at the center of the adoration underscores the painting's devotional focus on the Incarnation.

History & Provenance

The Adoration of the Magi was painted in 1568 by Jacopo Bassano, with possible contributions from his son Francesco Bassano the Younger.

By the late nineteenth century, the work had entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it remains housed today. The painting measures 98 cm in height and 128.5 cm in width and was created in Italy during the late Renaissance period.

The painting Adoration of the Magi, created in 1568 and attributed to Jacopo Bassano and Francesco Bassano the Younger, is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Russia. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 98 cm in height and 128.5 cm in width. While the sources confirm its current location within the Hermitage, no specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records. Additionally, the provided information does not list any past or future exhibition history for this specific artwork.

Overview

Jacopo Bassano’s oil painting titled Adoration of the Magi was completed in 1568. The work portrays the biblical episode in which the infant Jesus is honored by the visiting Magi. It is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Technique & Style

Bassano employs a balanced palette of warm pinks and greens against a muted, atmospheric background of trees, hills, and cloud‑filled sky. His use of chiaroscuro models the figures with a three‑dimensional presence, guiding the eye toward the infant and emphasizing the solemn yet intimate mood of the scene.

Adoration of the Magi, Francesco Bassano the Younger

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacopo Bassano

Jacopo Bassano was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school. He was born and died in Bassano del Grappa, and took the village as his surname. Having trained in the workshop of his father, Francesco the…