Adoration Of The Magi, Flanders, 17th C.

The story of the Magi comes from the Gospel of Matthew, which indicates that the Magi from the East, having followed a star, came to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King of the Jews, and offered him gold, myrrh and incense. In the West, the number of the Magi, after having varied a lot, was fixed at three. Symbols were quickly associated with it, and they ended up, in the 15th century, by personifying the three continents known in the Middle Ages (Asia, Africa, Europe) after having represented, from the 12th century. the three ages of life. Remember that gold, brought by Melchior, is associated with earthly power; incense is linked to religious ritual, to the sacredness of the Child; myrrh, associated with embalming, therefore with death, with the Passion , and the Resurrection of Christ. Beautiful carved and gilded wooden frame from the early 19th century. Usual restorations. 99x76 with frame