The Adoration of the Magi
c. 1485
Medium
woodcut, hand-colored in orange, green, and rose
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.455
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Adoration of the*, a captivating woodcut from around 1485 by an anonymous German artist of the 15th century. This print depicts the biblical scene of the Three Wise presenting gifts to the infant Jesus,, and Joseph—a timeless motif in Christian art symbolizing faith, kingship, and divine revelation. Created during the late Gothic period, just as the Northern Renaissance stirred in Germany, it reflects the era's deep religious fervor and growing demand for affordable devotional images. The artwork's medium is a hand-colored woodcut, a revolutionary technique that allowed intricate ...
About the Artist
German 15th Century
**German 15th Century** The designation "German 15th Century" encompasses a collective of anonymous artists active in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods in Germany, primarily known through their contributions to early printmaking and panel painting. These creators emerged during a transformative era when woodcuts and engravings began democratizing religious imagery, bridging the Goth...