The Adoration of the Magi by Hieronymus Bosch

The plot of "The Adoration of the Magi" was widely known, though often the details of the visitors varied to include more people and even exotic animals. In the compositions dedicated to this topic, painters depicted three sages, who are called "magi". Having reduced their number, the artists nevertheless gave them different features, trying to show that these three, in fact, are a collective image. Therefore, one of the magi is always young, the second is mature, and the third is old. Often, two of the magi are white-skinned, and the third is dark-skinned. This is how Hieronymus Bosch depicted them. The eldest of the magi, with white hair and a white beard, despite his venerable age and solid appearance, knelt down before the baby to present Him with a precious gift. On the right is a mature magus and his young black companion who also wanted to pay homage to the baby. On the left is a picture of Joseph kneeling, and behind him is a stall in which you can see a sitting ox and the back of a donkey. In the center is the Madonna with the baby Jesus on her lap. She sits on a golden carpet, indicating that, despite the modesty of her surroundings, this woman is the Mother of God.