1498
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Adoration of the Magi is a 1498 ink by Cristofano Robetta, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a crowded scene with a woman holding two small children at the center. Around them, a mix of people—some kneeling, some standing—reach toward the figures. Above, angels float in the sky, and below, horses and a few animals add to the busy mix. The lines are sharp and detailed, with lots of shading to create depth. The artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows, a method called cross-hatching. This makes the figures look three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create shadows this way.
Cristofano Robetta (1462 – 1535) was an Italian artist, goldsmith, and engraver. Robetta was a Florentine "who made some rich, intricate engravings in the fine manner". He often made engravings which replicated…
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