The Three Magi, from an Adoration Group
Workshop of Hans Thoman German
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has possessed this sculpture of the Three Magi offering their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in its collection since 1951. The recent acquisition of the Virgin and Child has provided the Museum with the exceptional opportunity to reunite these sculptures, originally part of the large altarpiece dismantled in the early nineteenth century. Altarpieces depicting the Adoration of the Magi were widespread in Germany during the late Middle Ages, particularly following the city of Cologne’s acquisition of the Magi’s relics in 1164.
It has been proposed that the first two Magi, Melchior and Balthazar, might depict the Hapsburg emperor Maximilian I and his son, Philip.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.