The artwork titled “The Virgin Holidays. Adoration of the Magi. Three kings” was created by Nicholas Roerich in 1907. This religious painting, executed using oil on wood, is a part of the “Perm iconostasis” series and reflects the Byzantine art movement. The artwork is housed at the Perm State Art Gallery in Perm, Russia.
The artwork depicts the biblical scene of the Adoration of the Magi, a traditional Christian narrative in which the three wise men or kings visit the newborn Jesus Christ bearing gifts. The figures in the painting are rendered with stylized, elongated proportions and adorned with halos, indicative of their sacred status. The use of gold and patterns in the background is emblematic of Byzantine art and its penchant for intricate, symbolic decoration. The composition is reverent, each king representing a thoughtful engagement with the divine event they are witnessing. This painting exemplifies Roerich’s integration of traditional iconography with his unique artistic vision, capturing the solemnity and mystical atmosphere of spiritual devotion.
