Adoration of the Magi

ca. 1476

Botticelli packed this bustling Renaissance scene with hidden celebrity cameos, including a sly self-portrait of himself on the far right, gazing directly at us. While it depicts the biblical arrival of the Three Wise Men, art historians believe the Magi are actually disguised portraits of the powerful Medici family—Cosimo, Piero, and Giovanni—who were the artist's biggest patrons. Commissioned for a chapel in Florence, the painting is a masterclass in early Renaissance storytelling, blending sacred devotion with the political swagger of 15th-century Italy.

Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence

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