Adoration of the Magi (Rubens, Madrid) facts for kids

The Adoration of the Magi is a very large oil painting by the famous Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. He first painted it in 1609. Later, between 1628 and 1629, he made big changes to it during a second trip to Spain. Today, you can see this amazing artwork in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.

Rubens painted this subject many times. Other versions include one from 1616–17 and another from 1624.

Painting History

Antwerp's Commission

In late 1608, the city of Antwerp was getting ready for important peace talks. These talks aimed to end the war between Spain and the Dutch Republic. The negotiations happened in the Antwerp City Hall in early 1609. They led to a ceasefire known as the Twelve Years' Truce.

People in Antwerp hoped for peace. They wanted their city to become rich again, as it was a major trading center that had been struggling. The city council decided to order a painting for the Statenkamer, the room where the talks would take place. They chose Rubens because he knew a lot about Italian art. He had just returned to Antwerp and was already the city's top painter. He was paid a lot of money for the painting – 1,800 florins!

The painting's theme was a hint at the good things Antwerp hoped to gain from peace. Rubens made several sketches and studies for the work. These include a sketch in the Groninger Museum and studies of faces, like Head of a black Magus. There is also a study that helps us see what the painting looked like originally.

Journey to Spain

In 1612, Rodrigo Calderón, an important person close to the Duke of Lerma, came to the Spanish Netherlands. He was an ambassador from the king of Spain. He likely came to turn the truce into a lasting peace treaty. The city leaders of Antwerp gave the painting to Calderón as a gift.

However, in 1621, Calderón lost his important position. In 1623, Philip IV of Spain bought the painting from Calderón's collection. He then placed it in his Royal Alcázar of Madrid palace.

Rubens' Reworking

In September 1628, Rubens traveled to Spain for the second time. He stayed until September 1629. He was called there to tell the king about his peace talks with Britain. While in Spain, he also got to work on his painting again.

A writer named Francisco Pacheco wrote that Rubens "changed some things in his painting of the Adoration of the Magi that was in the palace." This was a huge re-do! Rubens changed many details. He added strips to the top and right sides, making the painting bigger. He also updated its style to match his newer work from the late 1620s, which was inspired by the artist Titian.

Surviving a Fire

The painting became very popular in the Spanish royal collection. When Maria Anna of Neuburg suggested sending it to Germany as a gift, her husband Charles II of Spain said no.

In 1734, there was a big fire at the Royal Alcazar of Madrid. To save the painting, it had to be cut from its frame with a knife. Then, it was rolled up and thrown out of a window! You can still see the cuts and small bumps from the heat of the fire, but the painting was mostly unharmed.

Later, it was moved to the Royal Palace of Madrid, which was built on the same spot. Finally, it went to the Museo del Prado, where it was first listed in 1834. In 2004, the painting received a full restoration to clean and repair it.

See also

In Spanish: La Adoración de los Reyes Magos (Rubens, Prado) para niños

• Adoration of the Magi (Rubens), for other treatments of the subject