The Adoration of the Magi
Medium
Engraving;second state of three
Dimensions
plate: 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. (20 x 15 cm) sheet: 14 3/8 x 9 5/8 in. (36.5 x 24.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.601.337(4)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving of *The Adoration of the Magi*, created around 1585, captures the beloved biblical scene of the three wise men presenting gifts to the infant Jesus and the Madonna. Rendered through the precise lines of engraving—a technique that allowed intricate detail and multiple impressions—the work showcases a crowded yet harmonious composition filled with figures of men, women, and children gathered in reverence. The second state of three indicates subtle refinements made during the printing process, highlighting the careful craftsmanship involved in early modern printmaking. Hendrick Go...
About the Artist
Hendrick Goltzius|Bernardino Passeri · 1558–1617
Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617) was the most celebrated engraver of the Northern Renaissance and a pivotal figure in Dutch Mannerism. Born near the German-Dutch border, Goltzius transformed printmaking into a virtuoso art form through his revolutionary 'swelling line' technique, where the burin was manipulated to create lines of varying thickness that produced unprecedented tonal effects and three-d...