The Adoration of the Magi, from The Life of Christ - Martin Schongauer

Gift of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Jr.

Ancient Art Drawings European Art Prints

"The Adoration of the Magi, from The Life of Christ" by Martin Schongauer (1470/75) Engraving on tan laid paper.

Commentary

"The Adoration of the Magi, from The Life of Christ" by Martin Schongauer (1470/75) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, texture, and contr ast do most of the expressive work. Themes to notice include engraving. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Martin Schongauer is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Martin Schongauer German, c. The work is cataloged within a Germany cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as engraving, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Engraving on tan laid paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Image/plate: 25.4 × 16.8 cm (10 × 6 5/8 in.); Sheet: 25.5 × 17 cm (10 1/16 × 6 3/4 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include engraving. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/86266

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data