Adoration of the Magi

Correggio's Adoration of the Magi from around 1515-1518 depicts the visit of the three kings to the newborn Christ. This relatively early work shows Correggio developing the soft, luminous style that would distinguish him from the harder Mantegnesque tradition of his training The Adoration of the Magi and Adoration of the Shepherds were popular subjects that allowed artists to combine devotional feeling with elaborate compositions of figures, animals, and landscape.

The rich colors of the Magi's costumes and the warm, atmospheric lighting demonstrate Correggio's emerging mastery of Venetian-influenced colorism combined with Leonardesque sfumato.