Adoration of the Kings
- Artist: Gerard David
- Date: about 1515
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Adoration of the Kings" by Gerard David. Painted in Flanders in about 1515, it's a beautiful example of Northern Renaissance art. The scene depicts three Kings - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar - presenting gifts to the Christ Child in the ruins of a grand building.
The Virgin Mary sits on the edge of the manger while her husband Saint Joseph comes down a staircase just visible to the left. A crowd of curious onlookers peeks through the arch on the right. The composition is quite complex, with everyday life going on in the street behind and even animals grazing in the field.
This painting was likely part of a larger altarpiece showing the life of Christ, which David painted in Antwerp after 1515. We can see similarities between this work and others by David, such as his reuse of figures and compositions. The artist's use of collapsing and overgrown buildings opening onto a landscape is a hallmark of his style.
The painting itself is oil on wood, and the underdrawing is freely executed, suggesting that it was done by the artist himself rather than assistants. There are some slight changes in the main figures as the painting progressed, which gives us a glimpse into David's creative process.
See it in person
Adoration of the Kings hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
