Adoration of the Magi from Seven Scenes from the Life of Christ
Unknown Artist
ca. 1390
Medium
Pot-metal and colorless glass, vitreous paint and silver stain
Dimensions
27 1/4 × 13 in. (69.2 × 33 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
Austrian
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1986
Accession Number
1986.285.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite stained glass panel, titledAdoration of the Magi Seven Scenes from the Life Christ*, dates to around 1390 and hails from Austria, crafted by an unknown artist. captures the biblical moment when the three wise men present gifts to the infant Jesus, a popular motif in medieval art symbolizing Christ's kingship and the inclusion of Gentiles in salvation. As part of a larger series narrating key events from Christ's life, panels adorned Gothic churches, transforming sunlight into vivid storytelling spectacles for worshippers, many of whom could not read. The artwork showcases advan...