Adoration of the Magi

Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi, tempera on wood, 9' 11" x 9' 3" ca. 1423

Gentile da Fabriano (1370-1427) was from Florence, Italy. He was considered by many to be the master of international style.


"The altar-piece, with its elaborate gilded Gothic frame, is testimony to Strozzi’s
lavish tastes. So too is the painting itself, with its gorgeous surface and sumptuously costumed kings, courtiers, captains, and retainers accompanied by a menagerie of exotic animals. Gentile portrayed all these elements in a rainbow of color with extensive use of gold." - Fred S. Kleiner

This altarpeice was created for a chapel in Santa Trinità in Florence. The piece tells the story of the Magi that came to visit Christ and to give him the gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. In the painting it is designed so that Christ is the main source of light in the painting.

I chose this piece because it is a good representation of the glory in which Christ is depicted throughout the art world. It is made with such fine materials, and there is a lot going on in the painting; however, the attention is still drawn to the child.