The Adoration of the Magi

The triptych shows the Adoration of the Magi: the scene is divided exactly into two parts by a column, on which we see a candelabra decoration; two Magi, at the centre, offer their gifts to the Child; on the left, the third Magus waits to make his offering while a man behind him, probably the patron, looks out at the viewer. On the right wing, even though the absence of any break in continuity of the scene might suggest the presence of Joseph, there is a man in pilgrim’s attire, who is possibly Saint James the Apostle. Scholars still do not entirely agree on the authorship of this work, which is attributed to the so-called “Master of the Holy Blood”, an artist in whom we find the influence of Quentin Massys.