Adoration Of The Magi, Circa 1620

 SPAIN SCHOOL, Oil painting on copper, "Adoration of the Magi," dated to the late 16th or early 17th century, based on an engraving from the series "Scenes from the Life of the Virgin" by Hendrick Goltzius.

The painting is executed on an engraved copper plate and bears the reversed inscription "EFFINGITVR HIC CONSTATIA," signed MARC CLOD*, for Rome 1588.

The subject, the "Adoration of the Magi," takes place thirteen days after the birth of Christ and brings together the Holy Family and the three kings from Persia, India, and Arabia: Melchior, Balthazar, and Caspar, who bring gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh. The contrast between the rich, brightly colored garments of the kings and the simple environment of the Holy Family is evident. The painting displays a rich and vibrant palette, including the celestial blue of Mary's robe and the green and ochre tones of Joseph’s clothing.

The composition is built on two opposing diagonals, one of the Holy Family and another diagonal of characters. Mary, the Child, and the kneeling king occupy a significant part of the painting’s space. The Star of Bethlehem, crafted with gold, is clearly visible, shining in the distant sky. Gold highlights are present in the halos.

The aesthetic restoration, carried out with reversibility in mind, involved:

Removing the old, heavily oxidized varnish, which had become encrusted, giving a whitish appearance that obscured the underlying paint layer,
Treating very small areas of retouching,
Applying a varnish to ensure long-lasting protection of the paint layer.
The painting is presented in a 17th-century ebony frame. Visible dimensions: 30.5 cm by 20.5 cm
Frame dimensions: 43 cm by 34 cm
The copper plate is engraved with four mythological figures, including:

Minerva with her spear,
Hercules bringing back Cerberus (the three-headed dog from the underworld), the 12th labor of Hercules,
Perseus holding the head of Medusa.

*MARCELLO or MARCO CLODIO, a print merchant in Italy, referenced in the DICTIONARY OF ARTISTS for whom we have prints with detailed notices by A. Leipzig, 1790, volume 4, page 181.

Restoration report: a report detailing the steps of the restoration will be given to the buyer. It has 14 pages, 3 pages of description and 27 photos.