Adoration of the Magi (1513): Art, History and Details

Adoration of the Magi (1513) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. The museum's creator attribution is Lucas van Leyden (Netherlandish, 1494–about 1533).

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

While the arrival of the Magi in the Mirror of Holiness, CMA 2005.145.36.b, is a fairly quiet affair, here the kings enter the holy birthplace with great fanfare, accompanied by a large retinue. A wide variety of costumes, poses, figural types, and facial expressions enhance the theatricality and visual interest of the scene. Particularly luxurious are the costumes of the Magi and the priceless gifts they have brought. Amid the noise and splendor, the infant Jesus is distinguished by the brilliant light that emanates from his head.

Object facts

• Title: Adoration of the Magi
• Date: 1513
• Creator attribution: Lucas van Leyden (Netherlandish, 1494–about 1533)
• Culture: Netherlands, 16th century
• Type: Print
• Technique: engraving
• Dimensions: Sheet: 30.4 x 43.3 cm (11 15/16 x 17 1/16 in.)
• Collection: PR - Engraving
• Department: Prints
• Accession number: 1923.274

Collection credit

Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund

Further reading listed by the museum

• The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1925.
• The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1928.
• Francis, Henry. "Recent Print Accessions by Lucas Van Leyden." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 22, no. 9 (November 1935): 142-145

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.