Roundel with the Adoration of the Magi (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The star at the top of the roundel represents the heavenly sign that guided the three Magi to the stable, shown on the right, where Christ was born. Bowing in humility, Melchior presents his gift to the infant, as Gaspar and Balthazar stand behind. In Germany, Gaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior were often symbolic of the three ages of man (Youth, Adulthood, Old Age) and the three races of the known world (African, European, Asian); thus, they represent worldly power submitting to the divine authority of God. This roundel could have decorated an ecclesiastical object such as a monstrance.
Gift of Leopold Blumka
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.