The Adoration of the Magi
ca. 1470–1475
Medium
Engraving (proof state)
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 1/16 x 6 9/16 in. (25.6 x 16.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1932
Accession Number
32.78.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of Martin Schonger's *The Adoration of the*, an exquisite engraving from around 1470–1475. This proof state impression captures a pivotal biblical scene: the Three Wise Men presenting gifts to the Christ Child in the presence of the Madonna, amid a lively nativity setting. Schongauer's composition brims with Northern Renaissance detailcows, horses,, and fluttering flags add a touch of everyday wonder to the sacred moment, blending the divine with the tangible world of 15th-century Europe. As one of the greatest engravers of his era, Schongauer elevated printmakin...
About the Artist
Martin Schongauer · 1435–1491
Martin Schongauer, born around 1450–1453 in Colmar, Alsace, emerged from a family of skilled artisans. The third of four or five sons of goldsmith Caspar Schongauer, who had relocated from Augsburg to Colmar around 1440, Martin was immersed in the goldsmith's trade from youth, likely receiving his initial training in his father's workshop—a common path for early engravers. He further honed his ski...