Artwork
The Adoration of the Kings
The Adoration of the Kings is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Ortolano. It dates from 1524 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child as the central figures receiving homage, accompanied by Joseph and the visiting Biblical Magi.
Created in 1524 by Ortolano, this religious painting illustrates the biblical episode of the Adoration of the Magi. The composition features the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child as the central figures receiving homage, accompanied by Joseph and the visiting Biblical Magi. As a work of religious art, the image represents the theological significance of the Epiphany, marking the revelation of the infant Jesus to the Gentiles through the presence of the kings.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Adoration of the Kings was painted by Ortolano in 1524. It depicts the Biblical Magi together with Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, a subject drawn from the Nativity narrative. The painting measures 360 cm by 255 cm and is part of the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented for the work beyond its current institutional placement.
Overview
Created in 1524 by the Ferrara‑based painter known as Ortolano, this oil work portrays a traditional Nativity tableau. The composition gathers the Holy Family and the three Magi within an interior space that opens onto a distant landscape, emphasizing a solemn exchange of gifts. The painting is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Technique & Style
Executed in the early Mannerist idiom, the work departs from strict naturalism through elongated poses and a heightened sense of elegance. Ortolano employs a restrained palette and careful modeling to create depth, while the archway framing the background landscape introduces a subtle spatial contrast typical of the period’s experimental approach.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ortolano was an Italian painter of the Ferrara School, active in the Renaissance period. Ticozzi cites his birth as ca. 1480.
