The Christmas Story: Adoration of the Magi

Sandro Botticelli - Adoration of the Magi - Oil on panel - 3′ 8″ x 4′ 5″ - Uffizi Gallery - Florence (click photo for larger image) Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445 - 1510) was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, often patronized by the Medici. After a successful early career, however, Botticelli fell under the influence of extremist Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola who, in the 1490s, convinced many Florentines that they needed to repent their sins by burning their material possessions in a massive public bonfire. Consequently, most of Botticelli’s early works met their fate, except for those that had already been acquired by his patrons.

Botticelli’s posthumous reputation suffered until the late 19th century, when he was rediscovered by the Pre-Raphaelites who stimulated a reappraisal of his work. 

The work presented here is one of seven versions of this subject painted by Botticelli. Featured are prominent members of the Medici family (including Lorenzo and Giuliano) in varying states of worship before the newborn Christ. The artist found a way to bring the ancient past into the present.  He even included himself in the work, on the extreme right, gazing fixedly at the viewer.