Altarpolyptychon, Predellatafel scene: Adoration of the Magi 1496

This is Pietro Perugino's "Adoration of the Magi," an oil on panel painting, made in Italy, likely in the late 15th or early 16th century. The image is striking for its depiction of the three magi presenting gifts to the infant Christ. This scene was especially popular in Florence at this time, where the Feast of the Epiphany was celebrated with a lavish parade, sponsored by the Medici family and advertised as a representation of their power. It is important to remember that the Medici were among Perugino's major patrons. Note the ruinous state of the stable in which the Virgin sits with her child. This is a subtle reference to the pagan world giving way to Christianity. To understand this painting better, we can turn to historical documents and records that might shed light on the original commission, reception, and function of this devotional image. The meaning of art is never fixed; rather, it shifts and changes as new contexts emerge.