The Adoration of the Magi

1480s

Geertgen tot Sint Jans

(Netherlandish, c. 1460-c. 1490)

Culture

Netherlands, Haarlem, 15th century

Medium

oil on wood

Measurements

Framed: 39 x 29.5 x 3.5 cm (15 3/8 x 11 5/8 x 1 3/8 in.); Unframed: 29.3 x 18.9 cm (11 9/16 x 7 7/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of the Hanna Fund 1951.353

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Location

112 Northern Renaissance

Description

Little is known about the life and career of Sint Jans. He seems to have been born in Haarlem in Holland in the northern Low Countries where he may have been attached to the Knights of Saint John as a lay brother, and likely produced an altarpiece for that order. (His name seems to derive from his affiliation with the Knights of Saint John.) He died young in his late 20s. Between 12 and 16 paintings are attributed to him. The subjects tend to derive from the New Testament. The original context of this painting is not known.