"Adoration Of The Magi. Primitive Flemish, 16th Century, Around 1500"
Oil on oak panel, one board. Rare small private devotional painting executed around 1500, presented in its black and gold wooden frame, so-called "entablature" model. Total dimensions: 45 x 33 cm. The panel alone: 36 x 24 cm Our Adoration of the Magi is the work of an anonymous Flemish master, who worked in Antwerp and Bruges at the beginning of the 16th century. The artist placed the scene on a small bridge and in an idyllic landscape with the ruins of a Gothic church in the background. The elongation of the figures, the details in the clothing, the architecture and the landscape are characteristic of Antwerp Mannerism. This artistic movement developed throughout the 16th century, adopting various trends: while the first generation of Mannerist artists, active around 1500-1530, was particularly sensitive to refined effects, drapery and precious details, their followers adopted another vision and human physiognomies characterized by their strong musculature and a very acidulous palette of colors. In each of these two successive aspirations, artistic research no longer resides in some faithful imitation of nature, but in purely aesthetic considerations, often combined with complex intellectual considerations. Our small panel is teeming with a multitude of exquisitely refined details, such as the rendering of the foliage, the embroidery of the clothes and the goldwork pieces. A little reminder of the subject: It represents the adoration of the three wise men who come to bring the three gifts (gold, incense and myrrh) to the baby Jesus. In the iconographic tradition, Gaspard, with Asian features, offers incense, Melchior, represented as a white and bearded old man, gold, and Balthazar, with black skin, myrrh. This painting is in a very beautiful original condition. The colors have remained very fresh and delicate. Sold with certificate. (Ease of payment, contact us) Price: €17,000