Adoration of the Magi 1434

Fra Angelico painted this Adoration of the Magi in Florence sometime in the first half of the 15th century. It shows the three kings visiting the infant Jesus and his mother Mary after following a star to find him. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The adoration of the Magi was a popular subject in Renaissance Italy. The kings are often shown in rich robes and with elaborate retinues, as they are here. This reflects the wealth and power of the Italian city-states at the time and of the patrons of art. The Florentine church was an important patron of art, and paintings like this one were often commissioned for display in churches and other public spaces, reflecting the influence of the church. It comments on the social structures of its own time, self-consciously progressive. As historians, we can use a variety of research resources to understand this painting better. These might include documents from the time, such as letters, diaries, and account books. We might also look at other works of art from the period to see how they compare to this one. Ultimately, the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.