Adoration of the Magi
1513
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1513
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Adoration of the Magi is a 1513 by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A crowd of people in fancy robes fills a small stable. The three kings kneel before baby Jesus, offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Servants, horses, and onlookers pack the scene, all dressed in bright colors and rich fabrics. Lucas van Leyden painted this when he was only nineteen. The faces show real emotion—some look curious, others bored. The details, like the wrinkles in the robes and the shine on the gifts, make the scene feel alive. To see how other artists handled the same story, look up *netherlands, 16th century*.
