The Procession of the Magi (Strozzi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Procession of the Magi |
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| King Balthazar's Journey to the Holy Land | |
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| Artist | Zanobi Strozzi |
| Year | between circa 1445 and circa 1450 |
| Medium | oil paint on panel |
| Movement | Quattrocento Catholic art |
| Subject | Adoration of the Magi |
| Dimensions | 66.2 cm × 71 cm (26.1 in × 28 in) |
| Location | Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg |
| Accession | 1893 |
The Procession of the Magi, also known as King Balthazar's Journey to the Holy Land, is an old painting from the 1440s. It was created by an Italian artist from Tuscany named Zanobi Strozzi. This artwork is now kept in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Strasbourg, France.
Contents
What is the Painting About?
This painting shows a scene related to the Biblical Magi. These were wise men who, according to the Bible, traveled to visit baby Jesus. The painting focuses on King Balthazar and his trip to the Holy Land.
A Pair of Paintings
This painting by Strozzi is actually part of a pair, called a pendant. It goes with another painting by an artist named Francesco Pesellino. That other painting shows another wise man, Melchior (or Caspar), crossing the Red Sea.
Together, these two paintings might have been part of a larger artwork. They could have been a "predella," which is the bottom part of an altarpiece. An altarpiece is a large artwork placed behind the altar in a church.
Who Painted It?
For a while, people thought a different artist, Domenico di Michelino, painted King Balthazar's Journey to the Holy Land. But since 1950, experts have agreed that Zanobi Strozzi is the true artist.
Journey Through Collections
Before it came to the museum in Strasbourg, this painting belonged to several important art collections. It was first owned by Alessandro Castellani in Rome. Later, it became part of Charles Butler's collection in London.
In 1884, the painting was sold from Castellani's collection to Butler's. At that time, some thought it was painted by Piero della Francesca. However, this idea was later changed. In 1893, Wilhelm von Bode bought the painting for the Strasbourg museum.
The Painting's Style
The painting has a very special look. It shows a "refined style" with "precious colors." This means the artist used beautiful, rich colors and painted with great care and detail. It also has a "fairy-tale atmosphere," making it feel magical.
This style is typical of the Florentine school of painting. This art style was started by artists like Fra Angelico. You can also see similar beautiful details in Gentile da Fabriano's Adoration of the Magi from 1423.
