1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Gerard David (Flemish painter, 1460-1523) Adoration of the Magi

Gerard David was probably born in Oudewater; exactly when he emigrated from this north Netherlandish town near Haarlem to the southern Netherlands is not known. He may have spent a period of time in Dieric Bouts's Leuven workshop, which continued under Bouts's sons, Aelbert and Dieric the Younger. 

1504 The Adoration of the Magi

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) Adoration of the Magi (detail) 1504

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Rogier van der Weyden (Flemish painter, 1400-1464) Adoration of the Magi

 

1600s The Adoration of the Magi

Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish painter, 1598–1664) Adoration of the Magi

 

1445 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Fra Filippo Lippi (Italian Renaissance painter, c 1406–1469) also called Lippo Lippi, Adoration of the Magi c 1445

In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the Magi often number 12. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is probably linked to Isaiah 60:1–6, which refers to "kings [coming] to the brightness of your dawn" bearing "gold & frankincense." Further identification of the Magi with kings may be due to Psalm 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him."

1526 The Adoration of the Magi

Quinten Metsys (Netherlandish painter, 1466-1530) The Adoration of the Magi, 1526

 

1517 The Adoration of the Magi

Correggio (Antonio Allegri) (Italian painter, c 1489-1534) Adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi-1517

The luxurious gifts btought to give the newborn Jesus mighy indicate that these visitors from the East “are people of great wealth & power, that’s kind of obvious based on the things they bring,” says Dr. Kristin Swenson, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. “They are called Magi in the Greek, which was a term that referred to a kind of subclass of Persian priests." 

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.

1440 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Fra Angelico (Italian painter, 1387-1455) Adoration of the Magi 1440

 

1500s The Adoration of the Magi

 Giorgio Vasari (Italian artist, 1511–1574) Adoration of the Magi

The only reference to these 3 men from the East in the Bible is in Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew, & they’re not called “wise men,” or “kings.” There’s also no mention of how many men were there. It only describes “some men from the East” & “visitors from the East.” 

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts.

1340 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Pietro Lorenzetti (Sienese painter, fl 1306-1345) Adoration of the Magi c 1340

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Domenico Ghirlandaio (Italian artist, 1449–1494) The Adoration of the Magi

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Rogier van der Weyden (Flemish painter, 1400-1464) Adoration of the Magi

1423 The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Gentile da Fabriano original name Niccolo Di Giovanni Di Massio (Italian artist, c 1370-1427) Adoration of the Magi Detail 1423

January 6 is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. Epiphany also means "a revealing scene or moment," & epiphany may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being."

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts. 

In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the Magi often number 12. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is probably linked to Isaiah 60:1–6, which refers to "kings [coming] to the brightness of your dawn" bearing "gold & frankincense." Further identification of the Magi with kings may be due to Psalm 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him."

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Paolo Uccello born Paolo di Dono as (Italian artist, from 1397 to 1475) Detail Adoration of the Magi (Quarate predella)

In Mark 15:23, Jesus is offered wine with myrrh before his crucifixion, because it was then believed to be a painkiller. Myrrh was also used at that time used in oil used for anointing kings, which is significant given that the Magi had come looking for the king of the Jews.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 records that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts on the day of Thr Epiphany, January 6th

1562 The Adoration of the Magi

1562 Jacopo Bassano (Italian painter, 1510-1592) The Adoration of the Magi

While it’s difficult to tie the Magi to any specific people, the very brief descriptions of them in the Gospel of Matthew do track with understandings of the world at the time the Gospel was written, thought to be sometime between 70 CE & 85 CE.

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

 

1500s The Adoration of the Magi

Attributed to Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (Italian, 1518-1594),  Adoration of the Magi

The Magi have come to be known as "wise men." Their orientation was much more focused on a science kind of religious revelation. The shepherds were notified immediately after Jesus' birth by angels. Looking to a star is “very much in keeping with the religious tradition of this place in time of looking to the heavens, the stars, & the planets for information about the gods’ wishes & doings, & some stars or planets were identified with God,” says Dr. Kristin Swenson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

January 6th is observed as a Christain church festival called Epiphany in commemoration of the arrival of the Magi at the end of their long journey from the Far East, in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Western Christain churches, Epiphany portrays the 1st manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In some Eastern Christain Churches, Epiphany celebrates baptism of Christ. (The word Epiphany also defines "a revealing scene or moment," & may also be seen as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.")

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Geertgen tot Sint Jans (Early Netherlandish painter, c 1465–c 1495), Adoration of the Magi

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 5 gospels in The New Testament of the Bible to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1–2 has it that they came "from the east" to worship the "king of the Jews." The gospel does not mention the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations traditionally portray them to have been 3 in number, based on the biblical statement that they brought 3 gifts. 

 

1400s The Adoration of the Magi

Andrea Mantegna (Italian painter, c 1431–1506) Adoration of the Magi

Dr. Kristin Swenson, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that Myrrh was also used at that time used in oil used for anointing kings, which is significant given that the Magi had come looking for the king of the Jews.

The biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, & the Three Magi, were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. They are figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas & are an important part of Christian tradition.