Open full image Pin

The Adoration of the Magi

Unknown

1424

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Early Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Religious Salzburg

Dominant colour

The Adoration of the Magi is a 1424 unspecified by Unknown, a Early Renaissance work, depicting Salzburg, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1424 · Early Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This small wooden triptych folds like a book. Inside, three scenes stack up: a donor couple kneeling, Mary and baby Jesus with Saint Anne, and the Three Kings offering gifts. The painting was made for private prayer, not a church. Look how the donor’s face is almost as big as the Virgin’s—he paid for the piece, so he gets a front-row seat. The gold leaf and bright colors would have glowed by candlelight. For more works like this, search the subject austria, salzburg.

The story of this work

Overview

This small winged altarpiece, called a triptych, was undoubtedly made for private use. The donor and his wife are shown in the lower central scene kneeling before the Virgin, her mother Saint Anne, and the Christ child. Above is the Epiphany with the Three Kings presenting gifts to a tightly swaddled Christ.

Read the full account in the museum source.