Adoration of the Magi

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this intimate 16th-century Italian panel, *Adoration of the Magi*, captures timeless biblical scene: the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus receiving homage from the three wise men. Created by an unknown artist, the work measures just 5 3/4 × 4 1/2 inches, suggesting it served as a personal devotional object, perhaps adorning a private chapel or reliquary during the Renaissance era when such portable religious icons flourished in Italy. The medium, verre églomisé—a sophisticated glass-painted technique—involves pain...