Adoration of the Magi

Federico Barocci (1528/35-1612), pen and brown ink, with brown wash, heightened with opaque, white and pale yellow, over a sketch in black chalk, on blue paper, c. 1560-1565

This drawing clearly reveals the artist’s working process. He first made a quick sketch, subsequently working out the depiction with pen and brown ink. Barocci was not pleased with the result and changed the position of the standing king's head three times. He then modelled the figures with opaque white, so that the group emerges as a relief from the blue background.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1981-28
  • Dimensionsheight 293 mm x width 209 mm
  • Physical characteristicspen en penseel en bruine inkt, met wit en lichtgeel gehoogd, over een schets in zwart krijt, op blauw papier