The Adoration of the Magi
1440-45
Giovanni di Paolo brings a touch of Sienese whimsy to this classic biblical scene, where the three wise men arrive to honor the baby Jesus. Notice how the kneeling king, dressed in a lavish patterned robe, gently kisses the Christ child's foot while Mary looks on in her signature deep blue. Behind them, a dreamlike landscape unfolds with jagged mountains and tiny shepherds tending their flocks, almost as if the holy event is happening on the edge of a fairy tale world. The horses peeking in from the right add a charming, almost curious presence to the sacred gathering.
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