About this artwork

As described in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the three kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, worship the new-born Christ child, sitting on Mary’s lap on the right, surrounded by onlookers. The drawing is probably a preparatory sketch for a painting now lost. It is one of the variations that Jordaens made on the subject of the Adoration of the Magi in which he re-used and reworked his own motifs, such as Joseph holding his hat above his head, and the group of gazing people and animals. These also feature in other works.

Updated before 2020

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Jacob Jordaens

Jacob Jordaens