The Adoration of the Magi c. 1570s

Editor: Here we have "The Adoration of the Magi," attributed to Jacopo Bassano the Elder, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels almost dreamlike, with so much happening, and the grayscale palette enhances that effect. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: It feels like peeking into a backstage moment, doesn't it? Bassano often brought a kind of rustic, even earthy sensibility to biblical scenes. Notice how the light isn't just highlighting the holy figures but dancing across the whole tableau. And those horses! They’re practically part of the family. What do you make of their presence? Editor: That's a great point. It makes it feel less staged, more like a genuine encounter amidst everyday life. Curator: Exactly! It’s like Bassano is reminding us that the divine can be found even in the most ordinary of settings, and that really resonates. Editor: I see it now! Thank you!