The Adoration of the Kings
1619
Hendrick Ter Brugghen decided that biblical figures shouldn't look like boring statues, so he traveled to Italy to learn from the master of drama, Caravaggio. The result is a scene packed with rugged, weathered faces and heavy, luxurious fabrics that you can almost feel. The kneeling king in the foreground is so focused on his gift that he ignores everyone else, while baby Jesus looks like a delightfully chubby, real infant rather than a divine symbol. Painted in 1619, this Baroque masterpiece proves that holy scenes are much more interesting when they feel like real life.
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