2-975-726 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Adoration of the Magi, c.1480-c.1485. Other Title(s): The Adoration of the Magi. The three kings presenting their gifts occupy the foreground of the Amsterdam Adoration. The Christ Child, seated on the Virgin’s lap, is extending his arm towards the kneeling, oldest king, Caspar, who is offering him a goblet filled with gold coins. The two other kings stand behind Caspar in the Amsterdam panel. Melchior, with long dark hair and a beard, is holding a gold chalice in his right hand, while the black King Balthazar has a crystal goblet. Starting in the late middle ages, the three kings were associated with the continents known at the time, with Melchior representing Asia, Balthazar Africa and Caspar Europe. The belief that the kings came from different parts of the world is underscored in the background by the three directions from which they are arriving with their retinues. Matching the kings’ positions in the foreground, there is Africa on the left, Asia in the middle and Europe on the right. Oddly, though, Caspar is riding a dromedary, which is usually associated with Africa.