Serpentara Landscape with the Procession of the Magi 1820

Joseph Anton Koch's "Serpentara Landscape with the Procession of the Magi" (1820) is a landscape painting that depicts the biblical story of the Three Wise Men following the star of Bethlehem. The work, now part of the Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf collection, features a detailed depiction of a mountainous Italian landscape with lush foliage, a rocky stream bed, and the procession of the Magi, all set under a vibrantly blue sky with a prominent star, evoking the celestial event that guides the Wise Men. The painting is a fine example of Koch's Romantic approach to landscape painting, characterized by a strong emphasis on nature's awe-inspiring power and its role in spiritual awakening.