01 Work, RELIGIOUS ART - Jacob Cornelisz's The Adoration of the Magi, With Footnotes - #136

Workshop of Jacob Cornelisz, Oostzaan circa 1460/65 - 1533 Amsterdam

The Adoration of the Magi with portraits of two kneeling donors, Claes Hendricksz. Basgen (1488-1563) and his daughter Neel Claesdr. Basgen (1528-1594)

Oil on panel

31¾ by 26½ in.; 80.6 by 67.3 cm.

Private collection

The Adoration of the Magi (anglicized from the Matthean Vulgate Latin section title: A Magis adoratur) is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him. More on the Adoration of the Magi

A dynamic and colorful Adoration scene fills the composition, but two donor figures kneel in the lower corners. The kneeling figure on the left is Claes Hendricksz. Basgen (1488-1563), a wealthy merchant who held prominent political positions in Amsterdam. On the right is his daughter Neel Claesdr. Basgen (1528-1594), who is attired in the robes of an Augustinian canoness. While the specifics for the commission of this panel remain uncertain, Dudok van Heel has proposed that this painting may have been commissioned in celebration of her entrance into the women’s convent of Oude Nonnenklooster in Amsterdam. More on this work

Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen (before 1470 – 1533) was a Northern Netherlandish designer of woodcuts and a painter. He was one of the first important artists working in Amsterdam, at a time when it was a flourishing provincial town.

Little is known about Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen's life. Historians rely mostly on the biographical sketch of him written by Karel van Mander, the archives of Amsterdam, and the archives of Egmond Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that commissioned works by him. His name indicates he was from Oostzaan, North Holland

The first known commissions for Jacob Cornelisz were from when he was at least 35 years of age. It is assumed that he worked in a painters's workshop before that, and judging from his close copies of Haarlem painting techniques, this was possibly in Haarlem. More on Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints and 365 Days, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.