Adoration Of The Magi, Venetian School, 17th C.

Oil on panel representing the adoration of the Magi. Having learned of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, they come from the East, guided by a star, to pay tribute to “the king of the Jews” and bring him gifts of great symbolic wealth: gold, myrrh and frankincense. Some later Christian traditions popularized them under the names of Melchior, Gaspard and Balthazar, because the gospel text of Matthew does not mention their names or their number, and does not qualify them as kings… Northern Italy, Venice? 17th c. Painted on pinewood panel; reinforcement at the back, usual restorations.