Magus from an Adoration Group (c. 1460–1475): Art, History and Details

Magus from an Adoration Group (c. 1460–1475) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

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

This sculpture represents one of the three Magi or kings who witnessed the birth of Jesus. The Magi are identified as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar and are typically shown in art bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Joseph is often present in these scenes as are shepherds.The single figure shown here was originally part of a sculptural group with many figures. He is shown holding an ornate receptacle with lid. Other figures from the group are not known to have survived, and which Magus the sculpture was intended to represent cannot be clearly established.

Object facts

• Title: Magus from an Adoration Group
• Date: c. 1460–1475
• Culture: France, possibly Champagne, 15th century
• Type: Sculpture
• Technique: polychromed limestone
• Dimensions: Overall: 97.2 cm (38 1/4 in.)
• Collection: MED - Gothic
• Department: Medieval Art
• Accession number: 1942.785

Collection credit

Bequest of John L. Severance

Further reading listed by the museum

• Catalogue of the John L. Severance Collection: Bequest of John L. Severance, 1936. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1942.

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.