Adoration of the Magi
- Artist: Attributed toLippo di Andrea (Artists)ca.1370-before 1451 (Life dates)
- Date: 1400
- Medium: tempera, gold-leaf on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Adoration of the Magi”, attributed to Lippo di Andrea, a Florentine artist who lived from about 1370 until before 1451. The work was completed around 1400, placing it squarely in the early Renaissance period when Italian painters were beginning to experiment with more naturalistic forms and richer color palettes.
The panel is finished in tempera with gold leaf backing, a technique that was still common in the early 15th century but soon to be supplanted by oil. The gold leaf gives the scene a luminous quality, especially around the robes of the three wise men, which are rendered with careful attention to texture and shadow.
Lippo di Andrea’s hand can be seen in the delicate rendering of the faces—particularly the gentle, almost tender expressions of the Magi as they present their gifts to the infant Christ. The composition is balanced, with the infant centrally placed and the three visitors arrayed to his left and right, creating a sense of harmonious procession.
Overall, the painting exemplifies the transition from medieval iconography to a more humanized, naturalistic representation, offering a glimpse into the evolving artistic conventions of early 15th‑century Italy.
See it in person
Adoration of the Magi hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
