Francesco Bassano’s "The Adoration of the Magi" presents a 16th century depiction of the birth of Jesus and the presentation of gifts to him by the wise men that is accounted in the Bible. The elegant dress of these individuals is made even more exotic by the the way that their bright colors are contrasted with the otherwise dim and dreary atmosphere. The magi, baby Jesus, and Mary are all the primary focus of the picture and demonstrate the homage that the wise men paid to the young savior. Oil on canvas was used in order to depict this iconic scene in Christian faith. The painting itself is attempting to convey Bassano’s view of Christianity from the perspective of his own time. His work addresses not only Christian values, but also those of the society that he was a part of. In the composition of the painting, various considerations that were being generated due to increasingly connected political and economic activity between Europe and the rest of the world.
The use of line within the painting is used to counterbalance the eroding city in the background with the more curved and organic lines that establish the human forms. The various movements and poses of these figures are conditioned by the use of these lines and the expression of specific motions or directions in order to tell a story. The squared stone blocks that make up the environment are juxtaposed with the softer shapes of these individuals. This creates a more human feeling as life is directly contrasted with the inanimate earth. Even the animals are gathered around to pay their respects to their new king. The hills in the background that fade into the horizon are further evidence of the use of line in order to express a distinction between the figures themselves and their environment. The use of line in this context allows for the picture to create the feeling that this event is important and has wide-ranging implications for the world. A single beam of light is directly lined up with the pinnacle of the triangle made by the baby Jesus, Mary, and the wise man presenting them with gifts. The use of line further expresses the intent of the painting to portray an important event in Christian history through manipulation of such techniques.
The shapes in the painting are also an important part of its development. This is what provides the underlying sense of dimension that is apparent within the portrayal. The dynamic expressive shapes of the people and animals are much more naturally contoured than the background presenting a sense of focus on the group of people being displayed. The group of people form a triangle that peaks near the top of the painting directly above Jesus’ figure. This is at the point where a beam of light is coming down from the sky. This shape seems to draw the eye towards the center of the image and provides insight into the intentions of its creator. The wise man bowing down and presenting Jesus with a gift forms a shape that balances out that of Jesus and Mary. Taken together, these figures present a strong focal point for the depiction in general. The use of line and shape therefore work together in order to draw draw the gaze to the context of the picture itself.
The sharp and dynamic figures are contrasted by the terrain in which they are depicted. The vivid images are made more clear through the use of colors that accurately portray real-world sensibilities. The use of such accurate and versatile methods in the creation of the painting present the Bassano’s desire to realistically portray the events surrounding the gifting to the newborn Jesus by the three wise men. Creating such controlled conditions alongside the variety of shapes and more controlled colors helps to establish the sense of reverence that he likely felt when creating the painting. The balance of the painting is therefore achieved through his careful use of line, shape, and color in his depiction of the scene. The subject of the nativity is given a careful adaption within the composition. The unity of the picture only serves to further clarify the motives of Bassano in his development of the underlying structures of form and function.
The Adoration of the Magi is one of the most important stories within Christian faith. There are also a variety of symbols present within the portrait. One of the main ideas underlying the nativity is the fact that three rich and powerful men traveled a great distance in order meet with their new savior and present him with gifts and blessings. Despite the level of wealth that these three men held, they bowed in reverence to the baby that would become the messiah. The three men themselves are depicted according to their historic characters (Kuiper 106). Christ, his mother Mary, and father Joseph are central figures within the depiction, despite Joseph being in the background behind his, who is almost more prominent than her son as she holds him in a deep embrace. They become the central focus of the scene and depict an important relationship between the three wise men and the three members of the holy family. The light shining above them is also likely representative of the star that the men followed to get there, as it shines directly above Christ.
As they give gifts to their savior, the three wise men are depicted in their own way. The magi and their attendants are represented as having wealth and status by their dress and demeanor. The older man in the front is bowed giving his gift of gold to Jesus. His attendant, also bowed, is giving him the gift in order to hand over. The remaining two wise men stand behind him talking with one another, one holding frankincense and wearing a crown. The three gifts being presented can be understood in relation to their symbolic representations. Not only were these items generally considered to be gifts for a king but they also express important metaphors as well. Gold demonstrates his divinity and right to kingship over humanity. Frankincense, often used in religious traditions, demonstrates the spiritual success that the child will have in life. Finally, myrrh, which is often used in embalming, is often considered to have been a symbol for the eventual sacrifice and crucifixion of the savior. While there are practical applications for these gifts, the nature of their offering demonstrates that they were likely used to symbolize these ideas.
It is important to understand that the nativity scene is generally depicted separately from the adoration that the wise men’s gifting of Christ represents. The rough clothing and features of mary and Joseph are juxtaposed with the more clean and dignified appearances of the three wise men and their appearances. Despite this, the three men are shown as kneeling to Jesus and bestowing him with gifts. This seems to represent the earthly nature of Jesus’ divinity. Despite the fact that he is the son of God, he is also born of man and woman. For this reason, even kings and those of rich heritage must bow down to his divinity. The humble nature of the depiction is made even more evident in the crumbling environment. Despite the fact that they seem to be living in poverty, they are reveling in the joyous birth of the young Jesus. The inclusion of animals in the scene is also another symbol that is used to depict this idea. The prospects of Jesus, as the savior of all mankind, being born in a manger surrounded by animals makes the idea even more humble.
During the renaissance period in Europe when the painting was created, there was a profound interest growing in depicting the scenes from the Bible in ways that expressed the underlying representation of figures through formulations of content based on skill and technique. The realistic figures presented in “Adoration of the Magi” are expressive of the intentions of Christians during the period to commemorate the stories in the Bible with paintings and other representations. The emotion and symbolism present in these works of art are only made more intense by the use of important iconographical figures and depictions (Duffy 3). These depictions are generally considered to be representative of the underlying views of the artists that create these paintings and so can help to provide insight into the perspectives of the time.
The use of such methods in Western Christianity became increasingly important as the context of religious affiliation continued to evolve. As the requirements of the humanist era continued to reduce the control of the catholic church those faithful artists continued to render portrayals of those scenes that they viewed as being essential to the story of their religious beliefs. Francesco Bassano followed European convention of the time by showing one of the three kinds as a black man representing the continent of Africa, while his companions were associated with Asia and Europe. During this period, the growth of European empire and trade into these areas gave people a new perspective regarding the past and the way that civilizations interact with one another throughout time.
The meaning of the work by Bassano is therefore expressive of the intentions of the painter in objectifying his faith and history through his creations. This story is significant in that is presents the most basic and important values of Christianity in the reverence that the wise men have for the newborn savior. This reverence is depicted in their willingness to bow before the child born of poor parents with no political position or authority. This idea is an underlying tenet of Christian values that is often lost in the desire to promote the adoption of specific codes of action (Morse 56). The idea of family is also important within the depiction. The gathering of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph within the painting expresses the importance of their roles in the social order. This can be understood as elevating the father, mother, and child to the point of reverence. These individuals are the most necessary unit for the capacity of humanity to keep moving forward. These ideas were likely a mixture of intellectual discourse being conveyed by an individual living in a time that viewed both knowledge and faith as being essential to grasping the true purposes of human existence.
Works Cited
Duffy, Mervyn. The Dynamics of Tradition illustrated by the Magi. The Australian Journal of Theology.
2006. Print.
Kuiper, Kathleen. The 100 Most Influential Painters & Sculptors of the Renaissance. The Rosen
Publishing Group. 2009. Print.
Morse, Margaret Anne. The Arts of Domestic Devotion in Renaissance Italy: The Case of Venice.
UMI. 2006. Print.
