The Adoration of the Magi
Entry ID
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46 (13/01/2022)
Formal title of the work
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The Adoration of the Magi
Description of the sculpture
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Enamelled terracotta altarpiece depicting the Adoration of the Magi. The Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus are on the right with St Joseph behind her. On the left are the three Magi including one kneeling. There are nine other standing figures behind the Magi, including a Black male in green wearing a golden headband with a green feather protruding from the centre. This relief includes two depictions of the the coat of arms of the Albizzi family.
URLs where this is recorded/available
Type of object
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Relief panel
Base
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No base
Dimensions
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Height: 221.7 cm
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Width: 184 cm
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Depth: 28.3 cm
Materials
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Clay kiln fired (Terracotta)
Specific techniques used
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Modelling
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Enamelling
Overall colour
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Polychrome
Does the Black person have a specific identity?
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Anonymous: generic/idealised type
Role within sculpture
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Minor role
Gender
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Male
Age
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Adult
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Adolescent
Status
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Uncertain
Clothing
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Wearing clothes – European/Western clothing
Evidence of enslavement
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None
Evidence of 'exotic' status
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Feathers
Action or activity
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Standing
Emotional state
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Neutral/emotionless
Focus of gaze of Black person
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Indeterminate
Sculptural context
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Rural: Biblical/mythological
Sculptor
Place of production
Period of production
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Sixteenth century (1500-1599)
Date of Production
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early 16th century
Date inferred from
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Inferred from stylistic features
Original purpose
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Devotional
Original display setting
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Sacred: church
Current owner
Current / most recently known location
Accession number
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4412-1857
Provenance history
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1857: acquired in Paris for the Museum of South Kensington (now named the Victoria and Albert Museum)
Notes
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The arms on this altarpiece are those of Albizzi, and this relief may have been commissioned for S Michele or S Andrea at Rovezzano, both of which were under Albizzi patronage at the end of the 15th century.
Current rights holder
License terms for reuse
http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/40, . (no date) ‘The Adoration of the Magi’, Black People in European Sculpture, accessed May 5, 2025, http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/429
