Artwork
Triptych: King Balthazar

Triptych: King Balthazar is a paint painting by the Mannerist artist Master of the Utrecht Adoration. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work serves to represent the veneration of Balthazar, isolating him as the main subject matter for devotional or narrative purposes.
The Triptych: King Balthazar is a religious work created in 1535 by the Master of the Utrecht Adoration. The central subject of the painting is the biblical figure Balthazar, one of the Magi. As a religious artwork, the piece focuses on the depiction of this specific saintly king, presenting him as the primary iconographic element within the composition.
The work serves to represent the veneration of Balthazar, isolating him as the main subject matter for devotional or narrative purposes.
Technique & Style
Created in 1535 by the Master of the Utrecht Adoration, this religious work is executed in paint on an oak panel support. The piece functions as a component of a larger triptych structure, specifically depicting the figure of King Balthazar. Formal analysis indicates a vertical orientation, with the panel measuring 109.7 cm in height and 31.6 cm in width.
The application of pigment on wood reflects the standard material practices for Netherlandish religious art of the early sixteenth century. No specific details regarding the current surface condition, handling history, or microscopic technique are provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
The triptych was painted in 1535 by the Master of the Utrecht Adoration, as indicated by its dated inception. After its creation, the work entered the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is now housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. No earlier owners or specific commission details are recorded in the available sources, so the known provenance traces the piece from its mid‑sixteenth‑century production to its present status within the Munich museum’s holdings.
The triptych panel depicting King Balthazar is held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is currently located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work, created in 1535 by the Master of the Utrecht Adoration, is executed in paint on an oak panel.
While the piece is part of this major public collection, the provided records do not list specific inventory numbers or detail its history of public exhibitions.
Legacy
The triptych depicting King Balthazar by the Master of the Utrecht Adoration was painted in 1535 and now resides in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, forming part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Its religious subject matter and composition have been cited in scholarly discussions of Northern Renaissance triptychs, influencing later interpretations of biblical narratives in multi-panel works. The piece continues to be studied for its technical execution and iconographic significance within the corpus of 16th-century European art.
Overview
Created in 1535, the work known as Triptych: King Balthazar is a three‑panel religious painting attributed to the anonymous figure identified as the Master of the Utrecht Adoration. The panels are presently displayed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where they form part of the museum’s early‑sixteenth‑century collection.
Artist & collection











