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A black and white print shows a group of men in an outdoor setting worshipping a baby.

In the bottom left corner of this black and white print, a mother sits on a cushion, which is placed on the rocky ground, and holds her child on her lap. The baby has rays of light emanating from his whole head and he reaches out to touch the open container of coins that is held out in front of him. The man holding this vessel has long hair and a beard and kneels in front of the mother. Behind the mother on the left is a bull, leaning its head out of the opening of the stone building where it is kept, and a man, who looks to the right and puts his right hand over his heart. Behind the kneeling man on the right are two men. The one on the left holds a small, closed container, and the one on the right is of African descent and holds a larger closed container in the shape of a gourd with a twisted-vine shaped stand. Behind them is a crowd of men, wearing plumed hats and turbans, conversing with each other or looking toward the mother and child. Behind them are more stone buildings. A bright star hangs in the center of the sky at the top of the scene, surrounded by some clouds. Below the scene is an inscription.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
G1661
People
Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch (Mühlbracht 1558 - 1617 Haarlem, Netherlands)
Title
The Adoration of the Magi
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: The Birth and Early Life of Christ
Alternate Title: Adoration of the Magi (in Lucas van Leyden's Style)
Series/Book Title: "Meisterstiche"
Classification
Prints
Work Type
print
Date
c. 1593
Places
Creation Place: Europe, Netherlands
Culture
Dutch
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/216745

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Engraving on off-white antique laid paper
Technique
Engraving
Dimensions
image: 46.4 × 35 cm (18 1/4 × 13 3/4 in.)
plate: 47.6 × 35.2 cm (18 3/4 × 13 7/8 in.)
sheet: 48 × 35.6 cm (18 7/8 × 14 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Signed: signed in plate, lower left: "HG"
  • inscription: in plate, lower margin to left andright: E ói Reges Bethlen duce sydere ducti, / Poplite submisso, posito Diademate, adorant // Deserto puerum in stabulo, et pia munera promunt / Thuris odorati, Myrrheq, et diuitis auri. / F. Estius
  • inscription: in plate, upper left: HG[monogram]
  • collector's mark: lower right corner, blind stamp: G [Jan Baptist de Graaf (Lugt 1120)]
  • collector's mark: verso, black stamp: Dr. / WA[linked] / Pr. [within a circular double borderline; Wilhem August Ackermann (Lugt 791)]
  • inscription: verso, graphite: Luke of Leyden
  • collector's mark: verso, purple stamp with black ink numbering within: [Gray Collection accession stamp (Lugt 4836)] 1661
  • watermark: [large, elaborate, illegible]

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Jan Baptiste de Graaf (1742-1804), Amsterdam (Lugt 1120). Dr. Wilhelm August Ackermann (1793-1865), Lubeck and Dresden (Lugt 791). Francis Calley Gray, bequest; to William Gray, his nephew, 1856, gift; to Harvard University, 1857

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

State
i/ii
Standard Reference Number
New Hollstein 12, Bartsch 19, Filedt Kok 104.5, The Illustrated Bartsch 0301.19

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of William Gray from the collection of Francis Calley Gray
Object Number
G1661
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
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Exhibition History

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu