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The Adoration of the Magi

Hieronymus Bosch Netherlandish
ca. 1475
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 605

This tranquil scene, with its tunneling perspective and sensitively rendered faces, is characteristic of Bosch’s works before he made his more famous scenes of hell. The stagelike setting, with a curtain held aloft by angels, may indicate the influence of religious plays performed in Bosch’s hometown of ’s Hertogenbosch. By the late fifteenth century, the three Magi were clearly differentiated to represent their varied regional origins. The Black king is prominently featured and elaborately attired, with a crowned, feathered fez and gold collar and belt with hanging Turkish curved sword and jeweled hand shield.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Adoration of the Magi
  • Artist: Hieronymus Bosch (Netherlandish, ’s Hertogenbosch ca. 1450–1516 ’s Hertogenbosch)
  • Date: ca. 1475
  • Medium: Oil and gold on oak
  • Dimensions: 28 x 22 1/4in. (71.1 x 56.5cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913
  • Object Number: 13.26
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

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The Temptation of St. Anthony, Hieronymus Bosch Netherlandish, Etching and engraving
The Temptation of St. Anthony
Multiple artists/makers
1561
The Temptation of St. Anthony, Hieronymus Bosch Netherlandish, Etching
The Temptation of St. Anthony
Hieronymus Bosch
Jan and Lucas van Doetecum
n.d.
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Hieronymus Bosch Netherlandish, Engraving
Christ on the Way to Calvary
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1560
Christ's Descent into Hell, Hieronymus Bosch Netherlandish, Oil on wood
Christ's Descent into Hell
Hieronymus Bosch
Fish Market, Joachim Beuckelaer Netherlandish, Oil on Baltic oak
Fish Market
Joachim Beuckelaer
1568

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