Adoration of the Magi

The elaborate vessels carried by the magi in this design for a print include a nautilus cup, a shell dish, and a lidded cup made from a coconut or ostrich egg, all luxury goods that would have been found in Antwerp homes. With its imagery of travelers and exotic goods, the subject appealed to the city's merchants, who were among the first in Europe to trade with Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The short-haired magus with earrings and a crown is portrayed as a Black African, one interpretation of the magus's origins.

Credit: Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Whitehill Art Purchase Endowment Fund