Adoration of the Magi by Federico Barocci

Adoration of the Magi 1545 - 1612

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

possibly oil pastel

fluid art

ink drawing experimentation

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This drawing by Federico Barocci, titled "Adoration of the Magi," depicts the biblical event of the three wise men offering gifts to the newborn Jesus. The drawing, created between 1545 and 1612, shows a dynamic composition with figures gathered around the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, emphasizing their importance. The delicate lines and shading create a sense of movement and emotion, capturing the adoration and reverence of the scene. The drawing is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, a testament to the enduring legacy of Italian Renaissance art.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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This drawing clearly reveals the artist’s working process. He first made a quick sketch, subsequently working out the depiction with pen and brown ink. Barocci was not pleased with the result and changed the position of the standing king's head three times. He then modelled the figures with opaque white, so that the group emerges as a relief from the blue background.