Artwork
Adoración de los Reyes Magos
Adoración de los Reyes Magos is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist José Mateos. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The figures are distinguished by their varied headwear, including a hat, turban, and armor-like elements, which signal their diverse origins and status.
The painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, a traditional Christian scene in which the three Magi present gifts to the Christ Child. In the composition, the Christ Child is shown seated on the Virgin Mary’s lap while the Magi kneel and offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The figures are distinguished by their varied headwear, including a hat, turban, and armor-like elements, which signal their diverse origins and status.
The inclusion of such details aligns with the iconographic tradition of representing the Magi as representatives of the known world, emphasizing the universal significance of Christ’s birth.
The setting and gestures reinforce the narrative of reverence and homage, with the Magi’s postures and the Christ Child’s blessing gesture conveying themes of divine kingship and salvation.
Technique & Style
Created in 1694, Adoración de los Reyes Magos is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 99 cm in height and 80 cm in width. As a religious genre piece, the composition depicts the Adoration of the Magi, featuring the Christ Child alongside figures adorned with turbans, hats, and body armor, with one figure holding a spear. The medium of oil paint allows for the rendering of these specific attributes within the devotional scene.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The visual focus remains on the interaction between the holy figures and the visiting Magi, utilizing the traditional oil-on-canvas technique characteristic of the period.
History & Provenance
The Adoración de los Reyes Magos was painted by José Mateos in 1694, as indicated by the artist’s inscription on the work and corroborated by catalogues of the Museo del Prado.
The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains housed today, according to the museum’s holdings recorded in Wikidata. Its subject, the Adoration of the Magi, aligns with the religious genre typical of Counter-Reformation Spanish art, and the work’s dimensions (99 cm × 80 cm) correspond to the format used for devotional paintings in late 17th‑century Spain.
The painting Adoración de los Reyes Magos by José Mateos is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Created in 1694, the work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 99 cm in height by 80 cm in width. The piece depicts the biblical subject of the Adoration of the Magi, featuring the Christ Child alongside figures wearing body armor, spears, hats, and turbans.
While the artwork is confirmed as part of the museum's holdings, the provided records do not list a specific inventory number or detail any past exhibition history for this particular piece.
Overview
José Mateos's 1698 oil painting, Adoración de los Reyes Magos, presents a religious scene centered on the Christ Child. This large-scale work, executed in oil, captures a moment of reverence and gathering. It is currently housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado, offering a glimpse into late 17th-century Spanish religious art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
José Mateos is a Spanish poet, painter, editor, and writer born in 1963 in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia.
