The Adoration of the Magi

This circa 1650 Adoration of the Magi is one of several versions Jordaens painted of this popular Epiphany subject. The arrival of the Three Kings allowed for spectacular displays of exotic costume, rich gifts, and dramatic lighting that suited Jordaens' talent for opulent, crowded compositions. Jordaens, who outlived both Rubens and Van Dyck to become the dominant figure in Flemish Baroque painting for the second half of the seventeenth century, was particularly celebrated for his exuberant genre subjects, especially his series on the Flemish proverb about the King of the Bean.

The painting demonstrates Jordaens' mastery of complex multi-figure compositions, with warm flesh tones, rich drapery colors, and dramatic chiaroscuro creating a scene of magnificence and devotion.