Adoration of the Magi 1606

Bartholomeus Spranger's 1606 engraving, "Adoration of the Magi," depicts the biblical scene of the three wise men kneeling before the newborn Christ. The composition is dynamic, with a strong diagonal line formed by the figures of the Magi and a dramatic use of light and shadow. The upper portion of the print features a host of angels in the heavens, their heavenly bodies floating on clouds. Spranger's use of expressive detail and a dramatic composition exemplifies the Mannerist style, which was characterized by distorted figures and a focus on emotional intensity.