2-969-834 - /Heritage Images

The New Picture for the National Gallery - "The Adoration of the Magi" - painted by Paul Veronese, 1856. 'Sir Charles Eastlake has secured to the British nation...a square-shaped Gallery sized picture...The Saviour (the new-born babe) is seen in the arms of his Virgin Mother. The Virgin herself has not much divinity of look: the race of Virgin Mary painters had passed by the time the great Venetian began to flourish. The rude manger is lost in a Palmyra of columns and the child to whom the offering is made, in a picturesque confusion of richly-dressed men, caparisoned camels and horses, and noble dogs and gold cups. A ray of Divine light is thrown from heaven on the Divine child; and Cupids (may we call them such?) sport in thin air very picturesquely...This fine picture is dated MDLXXIII [1573]'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.