Adoration of the Magi

Unknown

1470–1480 · Cartapesta (papier maché) with polychromy and gilding · The Cloisters

Cartapesta (papier-maché) was an inexpensive and widely used medium for sculpture in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Due to its inherent fragility, few examples survive. This relief includes a playful detail embraced by artists working in other media as well: as the kneeling king touches the baby Jesus, the child reaches for his beard and grasps a tuft of hair on his balding pate.

Artist: Unknown
Date: 1470–1480
Medium: Cartapesta (papier maché) with polychromy and gilding
Culture: German
Department: The Cloisters
Credit line: The Cloisters Collection, 2016

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