My Art History Site

Leonardo Da Vinci's

"Adoration of the Magi"

Leonardo Da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi" is a beautiful work of art depicting a Biblical story. The "Adoration of the Magi" was Leonardo's first major painting that was begun in 1481 A.D. (Honour & Fleming, 2002). It is housed at the Uffizi in Florence (Honour & Fleming, 2002). The medium used was different materials on wood (Wirtz, 2000). The monks of San Donato a Scopeto commissioned Leonardo to paint this work of art (Wirtz, 2000). Leonardo's work on this painting was never finished because he stopped work on it when he left Florence in 1482 A.D. to go to Milan (Wirtz, 2000). Despite the fact that this painting was never finished, Leonardo showed great talent in creating this work of art that would set a precedent for artistic genius that appeared during the Renaissance (Wirz, 2000). This is Leonardo's earliest example of a pyramidal composition (Wirtz, 2000). Mary who is holding the infant Jesus, and Joseph immediately above Mary, is in the center of the painting. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are surrounded by the Magi, or Three Wise Men from the East, and the Wise men form the base of the pyramidal layout (Wirtz, 2000). Leonardo shows many other people in the background, with many different gestures and facial expressions, that are gathered around Joseph, Mary, and Jesus (Wirtz, 2000). There are horses, trees, and humble but architecturally interesting building stuctures in the background. The building structures include stairs, arches, and columns. Leonardo Da Vinci uses warm colors in this painting, such as yellows, oranges, and reds. The colors are symbolic of the warm, loving, scene in history, where the Magi have come to visit the family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, and to worship the infant Jesus.