The Adoration of the Kings

Hendrick ter Brugghen (signed by artist), 1619

The infant Christ sits on the lap of his mother, the Virgin Mary, while the three kings present him with gifts. It is striking that the figures are shown crowded together and in fairly stiff, static poses. Ter Brugghen’s style was old-fashioned by the standards of his time: the bright palette recalls Mannerism. The realism, especially in the Child’s face, brings to mind the work of the Italian painter Caravaggio.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4188
  • Dimensionssupport: height 132.5 cm x width 160.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • The Adoration of the Magi
    • The Adoration of the Kings

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4188

  • Description

    De aanbidding der koningen. Links de heilige familie. Een van de koningen knielt en biedt een kelk met deksel aan, achter hem een knecht met een tulband met kroon. De twee andere koningen hebben kostbare metalen bekers in de hand.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date, bottom left: ‘HT-Brugghen fecit 1619’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Hendrick ter Brugghen (signed by artist)

  • Dating

    1619

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    support: height 132.5 cm x width 160.5 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Prins Bernhard Fonds and the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1970

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; private collection, Yorkshire;{Note RMA.}…; dealer, B. Cohen & Sons, London;{Note RMA.}…; sale, H.H. the Prince de Ligne et al., London (Sotheby’s), 10 July 1968, no. 38, as unknown artist, unsold;…; from the dealer B. Cohen & Sons, London, fl. 318,000, to the museum, with support from the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds and the Fotocommissie, 1970

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

Persistent URL

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