Adoration of the Magi

Art Historical Context

Step into the luminous world of Aegidiuseler II's *Adoration of the Magi* (c. 1590), a exquisite engraving that captures one of Christianity's most cherished scenes: the Three Wise Men gifts to the infant Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Created by the Flemish master engraver from the renowned Sadeler family, this print reflects the intricate Mannerist style popular in late 16th-century Europe, its elegant figures, dramatic poses, and rich details evoking a sense of divine reverence and opulence. Sadeler, who worked at the imperial court of Rudolf II in Prague, was celebrated for his reproductive engravings after paintings by leading artists like Bartholomeus Spranger. Here, he employs the meticulous intaglio technique of engraving—incising fine lines into a copper plate with a burin—to achieve extraordinary depth and texture on ivory laid paper, a premium 16th-century support prized for its smooth surface and subtle sheen. The plate measures 21.4 × 16.1 cm, allowing for intimate viewing that draws the eye to shimmering fabrics, expressive faces, and symbolic gifts like gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this work highlights engraving's role in disseminating religious iconography to a wider audience during the Counter-Reformation. Sadeler's technical virtuosity made sacred narratives accessible, bridging courtly splendor with devotional piety in an era of artistic innovation.

About the Artist

Aegidius Sadeler, II · 1570–1629

Aegidius Sadeler II was born in Antwerp around 1570 into the most distinguished printmaking dynasty of the sixteenth century. The Sadeler family — spanning Jan I, Raphael, and Aegidius I — dominated the European print trade from their Flemish base, and Aegidius II was trained by his uncle Jan Sadeler I, under whom he was listed as a pupil in the records of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in 1585. He...