The artwork “The Adoration of the Magi” by Hieronymus Bosch, created in 1510, is an oil painting on wood that belongs to the Northern Renaissance movement. Its dimensions are 138 x 72 cm, and it is classified as a religious painting, specifically a part of the “Adoration of Magi” series. The piece is currently housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.
In the painting, Bosch depicts the Biblical scene of the Magi, or wise men, visiting the newborn Jesus to offer gifts. This triptych format painting features a central panel flanked by two wing panels. The central scene is set in a dilapidated, thatch-roofed stable where the Virgin Mary presents the Christ Child to the Magi, who are shown in rich and exotic attire, indicative of their status and the gifts they bring. The leftmost figure appears to be in a more humble and contemplative pose, while the rightmost figure stands with a prayer book in hand. To Mary’s right, there’s an elderly, bearded figure believed to be Joseph. The detailed landscape in the two outer panels includes a mix of architectural structures and pastoral scenes, with figures and actions that add to the narrative or symbolize different aspects related to the central event. Bosch’s work is renowned for its intricate detail and symbolic content, often imbued with moral and didactic messages.
