Adoration of the Magi (Botticelli, 1475)

The Adoration of the Magi is a painting by the Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, dating from 1475 or 1476, early in his career. The work is on display at the Uffizi in Florence. Botticelli was commissioned to paint at least seven versions of The Adoration of the Magi.[1] This version was commissioned by Gaspare di Zanobi del Lama for his funerary chapel in Santa Maria Novella.

Adoration of the Magi
ArtistSandro Botticelli
Yearc. 1475–1476
MediumTempera on panel
Dimensions111 cm × 134 cm (44 in × 53 in)
LocationUffizi, Florence

Inserted Medici portraits

In the scene numerous characters are present, among which are several members of the Medici family: Cosimo de' Medici (the Magus kneeling in front of the Virgin, described by Giorgio Vasari as "the finest of all that are now extant for its life and vigour"), his sons Piero (the second Magus kneeling in the centre with the red mantle) and Giovanni (the third Magus), and his grandsons Giuliano and Lorenzo. The three Medici portrayed as Magi were all dead at the time the picture was painted, and Florence was effectively ruled by Lorenzo.

Whether Botticelli's intimate relations with the Medici brothers allowed the wealthy Gaspare to introduce the portraits of their kinsmen in his altar-piece, or Gaspare was glad for this opportunity to pay a graceful compliment to these powerful personages is hard to tell. It is, however, apparent from the great pains Botticelli took with these figures, that this formed an important part of the task.

Also Gaspare himself is said to be included in the painting, as the old man on the right with white hair and a light blue robe looking and pointing at the observer. Furthermore, Botticelli is alleged to have made a self-portrait as the blonde man with yellow mantle on the far right.

Style

In his Lives, Vasari describes the Adoration in the following way:

of the heads in this scene is indescribable, their attitudes all different, some full-face, some in profile, some three-quarters, some bent down, and in various other ways, while the expressions of the attendants, both young and old, are greatly varied, displaying the artist's perfect mastery of his profession. Sandro further clearly shows the distinction between the suites of each of the kings. It is a marvelous work in colour, design and composition.[2]

The attention to details, such as the garments rendering, shows the acquisition by the Florentine artist of the influences from the Flemish school at this point of his career.

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See also

References
  1. "Adoration of the Magi". Mountain West Digital Library. Utah Academic Library Consortium. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. Vasari, Giorgio (1900). The Lives of the Painters, Sculptors & Architects, Volume 3. University of California: J.M. Dent. pp. 106–107.

Further reading
  • Zöllner, Frank (2005). Sandro Botticelli. Prestel-Verlag. ISBN 3791332732.
  • Page at artonline.it (in Italian)
  • "Palazzo Medici". Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2017-09-28.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)


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