The Adoration of the Magi

c. 1501/1503

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer

Artist, German, 1471 - 1528

This is a drawing of a religious scene set in classical architecture. The drawing features a group of figures gathered around an archway, with one figure prominently seated and holding an infant. The setting includes elements of classic stone architecture, such as an arched doorway, brickwork, and a thatched roof structure. There is a detailed backdrop of a landscape with mountains and a town. In the upper right, there are winged figures that appear to be angels, and a bright celestial star is visible in the sky. The drawing is intricate in its line work, capturing the texture of clothing, the details of the architectural elements, and the myriad expressions and actions of the figures, giving it a sense of dynamism and narrative. This is in the style typical of Albrecht Dürer.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.3586

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 199


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1971

  • Dürer in America: His Graphic Work, NGA, 1971, no. 146, repro.

2007

  • Fabulous Journeys and Faraway Places: Travels on Paper, 1450 - 1700, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 2007

Bibliography

1932

  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog; ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna: Verlag Gilhofer und Ranschburg, 1932. Reprint. New York: Da Capo Press, 1971.

1991

  • Kopper, Philip. America's National Gallery of Art: A Gift to the Nation. New York, 1991: 214-215, repro.

2001

  • Schoch, Rainer, Mattihas Mende, and Anna Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk. Munich, 2001: vol. 2: no. 177.

Wikidata ID

Q18338569

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