The Adoration of the Magi - Southern Italian school, late 17th century

Southern Italian school, late 17th century
The Adoration of the Magi
Oil on canvas
H. 83 cm; L. 96 cm

Provenance: Private collection, Lyon

The Adoration of the Magi is a recurring theme in painting through the centuries, and its depiction also follows the same compositional logic.
Joseph, always in the background and often in the shadows, watches the scene of the three kings who have come to offer their gifts to the Child. Following them, a procession arrives in droves to kneel before the Savior. Whether you're looking at an incunabulum or a large 19th-century church painting, the arrangement of the elements and the setting remain the same.

Here, the Italian artist, most certainly working in Naples, uses very dark tones in the backgrounds and a great contrast with the central figures displaying divine light. These colors are typical of southern Italy.