In honor of the Feast of the EpiphanyAdoration of the Magi with Saint Anthony Abbot, About 1390-1410

In honor of the Feast of the Epiphany

Adoration of the Magi with Saint Anthony Abbot, About 1390-1410 @thegettyFranco-Flemish Master

Against a magnificent red backdrop decorated with a floral motif (an allusion to divinity), the Christ child receives the Magi and grasps the gold coins offered by Caspar, accepting his kingship. The while turban of the youngest Magi and the black page refer to the Three Kings’ distant lands. While the animated Virgin and Child group appeared throughout Europe at the time this panel was painted, the elegant figures, refined faces, and lively curls are hallmarks of the major Flemish artists working for the Burgundian court in Dijon. Saint Anthony, identified by the frolicking pig at his feet (pig fat was used as a remedy for certain skin diseases), was a favorite saint in that region, and this paintings was probably intended for a hospital or chapel dedicated to him. *

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