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The three kings present their gifts to the infant Christ and the Virgin Mary, against a background of deep and elaborate architectural perspective.

The Adoration may have been painted as an altarpiece for the chapel of the castle in Geyerswörth (Bamberg), which was renovated between 1583 and 1597. At this period Spranger was working as court painter for the Emperor Rudolph in Prague, as the extended signature of this picture proclaims.

Details

  • Title: The Adoration of the Kings
  • Creator: Bartholomaeus Spranger
  • Date Created: about 1595
  • Physical Dimensions: 199.8 x 143.7 cm
  • Type: Painting
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • School: German
  • More Info: Explore the National Gallery’s paintings online
  • Inventory number: NG6392
  • Artist Dates: 1546 - 1611
  • Artist Biography: Spranger was born in Antwerp, where he trained. From 1565 to 1575 he worked in Italy, where he was influenced by Correggio and Parmigianino in particular their Mannerist figure style and use of sfumato. He subsequently moved to Prague where he worked for the Habsburg emperor Rudolph II. The prints of the engraver Goltzius spread Spranger's influence through northern Europe.
  • Acquisition Credit: Bought, 1970

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