Adoration of the Magi, Murillo

This work focuses on the magicians' reaction to the newborn, rather than on the classical and biblical description of the story. They show joy and devotion, reinforcing the solemnity of the moment when The Virgin Mary presents the child to them simply. The moment when the Magi visit the Messiah has been widely treated by various artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, one of the best-known versions is the "Adoration of the Magi" by Velázquez. Although the biblical passage is brief, Christian oral tradition has embellished the event with all sorts of details, many of which are reflected in the work. At the top left, the Star of Bethlehem is visible, the magi's attire reinforces the universal character of the religion: each one shows an age of man: youth, maturity, and old age; and a geographical origin from a different continent (of the 3 continents known up to that time): Asia, Africa, and Europe.