The Adoration of the Magi is a painting by Albrecht Dürer in 1504. The work is a masterpiece that elegantly combines Scandinavian models and Italian motifs. At that time, Dürer had already visited Italy once and therefore was familiar with the works of ancient art and Italian art. Inspired by the trip, Dürer created The Adoration of the Magi.

Author: Albrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528).
Original title of the painting: “Adorazione dei Magi”.
Year of writing: 1504.
Size: 99 x 113.5 cm.
Technique: Oil.
Material: Wood panel.
Style: Flemish Renaissance.
Genre: Religious genre.
Location: Uffizi, Florence, Italy.

Painting “Adoration of the Magi” by Albrecht Durer – a masterpiece for the altar of the Schlosskirche

The painting is dated 1504 and signed with the artist’s monogram “AD” on a gray stone next to the Mother of God. In 1504, Frederick the Wise commissioned Dürer to paint a masterpiece for the Schlosskirche altarpiece. History keeps an interesting episode: when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg in 1517, Albrecht Dürer’s magnificent painting “The Adoration of the Magi” hung right inside the church a few feet from it.

The Adoration of the Magi remained in Wittenberg until 1604, when it was moved to Vienna and presented as a gift to Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor. Today, Dürer’s painting is in the Uffizi in Florence.

The iconographic choice of the “Adoration of the Magi” is focused by Durer on the main characters – the Mother of God, showing the Christ Child to the three magicians who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift. These are the three kings – Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior. The bearded king (Caspar), kneeling and leaning towards the Child, resembles the wise old man in the Adoration of the Magi by the famous Leonardo. It is likely that Dürer was inspired by this work from the Uffizi. Dürer’s hero kneels and looks at the baby Christ with reverent tenderness.

Do you see the flat, moss-covered rock next to Mary?

Dürer’s distinctive monogram “AD” is faintly visible on it. The symbolism of the work is very curious:

• the crab symbolizes a bite in the heel;
• green plantain, known for its healing power, is an attribute of the shed blood of the Savior;
• on the left, butterflies, icons of the resurrection, flutter over a millstone resembling a stone at an empty tomb;
• in the center of the picture, crumbling architectural ruins stretch towards the sky. This symbolizes not only the decay of our world, but also the destruction of our own bodies and souls, caused by man’s conscious choice to obey Satan rather than God;
• the billowing cloud at the top right is a renaissance icon symbolizing the presence of God the Father Almighty;
• in the assembly of the Magi we see “one holy Christian and apostolic Church;
• in the foreground on the right is a flying deer, which here symbolizes Christ.