The Adoration of the Magi

The Adoration of the Magi

Infrared Reflectogram

Photomicrograph of rightmost courtier’s eye, 7.5x magnification

Photomicrograph of black magus’s eye, 7.5x magnification

Photomicrograph of eldest magus’s eye, 7.5x magnification

Photomicrograph of Joseph’s eye, 7.5x magnification

The Adoration of the Magi

Artist:
Workshop of Gerard David (Netherlandish, Oudewater ca. 1455–1523 Bruges)
Date:
ca. 1520
Medium:
Oil on wood
Dimensions:
Overall 27 3/4 x 28 7/8 in. (70.5 x 73.3 cm)
painted surface 27 1/2 x 28 3/8 in. (69.2 x 72.1 cm)
Classification:
Paintings
Credit Line:
The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982
Accession Number:
1982.60.17

First established in Bruges, Gerard David also joined the painter’s guild in Antwerp in 1515, where his compositions and motifs soon began to circulate. This excellently preserved panel is strongly indebted to David’s work. The extravagantly dressed onlookers, however, are a pure invention of Antwerp art, as is the landscape view with travelers carrying goods for trade. Due to Antwerp’s status as the mercantile center for northern Europe, scenes of the Adoration of the Magi were particularly popular in the city. They served not only a devotional use, but could also be associated with the travel of foreign goods.

Provenance

John Rushout, 2nd Lord Northwick, Thirlestane House, Cheltenham (by 1854–59; his estate sale, Phillips, Thirlestane House, July 27, 1859, no. 172, as by Van Eyck, for £519.15.0 to Brett); John Watkins Brett, London (1859–d. 1863; his estate sale, Christie's, London, April 9, 1864, no. 858, as by J. Hemmelinck [Memling]); George Rushout Bowles, 3rd Lord Northwick, Northwick Park, Gloucestershire (until d. 1887); his widow, Elizabeth Augusta Bowles, Lady Northwick, Northwick Park (1887–d. 1912); her grandson, Captain Edward George Spencer-Churchill, Northwick Park (1912–d. 1964; his estate sale, Christie's, London, May 28, 1965, no. 41, as by Gerard David, for £27,300); [Julius Weitzner, New York, 1965]; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Linsky, New York (1965–his d. 1980); The Jack and Belle Linsky Foundation, New York (1980–82)

Copyright Image
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