1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Adoration of the Magi is a 1513 ink by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a crowded scene with two groups of people. In the front, a woman holds a baby while a man kneels beside her, both dressed in simple robes. Around them, three men in fancy hats and robes stand out—they’re holding what look like gifts. Behind them, a balcony is packed with more figures in odd hats, some holding spears. The artist used deep shadows and fine lines to make the robes and faces look textured. The baby’s small hands and the woman’s gentle pose stand out against the busy crowd. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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