The Adoration of the Magi
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 47.3 x 35.2 cm (18 5/8 x 13 7/8 in.) sheet: 47.7 x 36 cm (18 3/4 x 14 3/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2000.34.1
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Adoration of the*, a masterful 1594 engraving by Hendrikoltzius, crafted in the style of the renowned early Dutch artist Lucas van Ley. This poignant biblical scene captures the Three Wise Men presenting gifts to the infant Christ, a timeless motif in Western art symbolizing faith, kingship, and divine revelation. Goltzius, a leading figure of the Dutch Mannerist movement, pays homage to van Leyden intricate line work and narrative clarity, blending Northern Renaissance precision with elegant exaggeration. Printed on laid paper—a common 16th-century support that reveals its woven ...