The Adoration of the Magi
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
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982
Accession Number
1982.60.17
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Gerard David's *The Adoration of the Magi*, around 1520, captures a timeless biblical scene from the Gospel of Matthew: the wise men presenting gifts to the infant Jesus, attended by the Virgin Mary and Joseph. This oil-onwood panel, measuring nearly 28 inches square, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance tradition of the Early Netherlandish school, where David worked in Bruges. As a master of intricate detail and luminous color, David draws on influences from Jan van Eyck, infusing the composition with a sense of quiet reverence and realism. The medium of oil on wood allowed for the fine grad...