Triptych of the Adoration of the Kings

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the term “originality” was understood differently than it is today. At the time, if a work of art was a success, it was often reproduced. As a result, its price did not depend so much on its uniqueness, but on the artistic quality of the work. For example, five other versions of this Adoration of the Magi are known to exist, giving an indication of how successful the piece was in its day. It also suggests that the workshop of Jan van Dornicke, to whom the painting is attributed, was very productive. This is considered to be one of the best versions, although its original triptych format has, unfortunately, not been preserved as the frame was removed, possibly during the 19th century.