The Adoration of the Magi 1540 - 1550

Editor: This engraving, "The Adoration of the Magi" by Niccolò Vicentino, from around the mid-16th century, has such an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality in this blue ink. What jumps out at you when you look at this piece? Curator: It feels to me like stepping into a memory, doesn’t it? That hazy blue ink softens everything, almost obscuring it, demanding closer observation. It’s a beautiful rendering of a powerful story - I’m particularly struck by the dynamism of the figures. Note how Vicentino layers the composition; the eye is drawn in a zig-zag from the lower left towards the group on the right. What feelings does that elicit? Editor: A sense of movement, definitely, as though we're joining a bustling crowd eager to witness something special. Is it usual to see this sort of complex composition in prints? Curator: That’s astute of you to observe that. Vicentino was known for his chiaroscuro woodcuts, attempting to mimic the effects of drawings using blocks to create shades and tonalities. Look closely at how light falls on each of the figures and see how Vicentino creates the effects of spatial depth. Editor: Oh, wow, I see how the varying darkness brings some figures forward and pushes others back, making it a layered space! And it kind of creates this swirling sense of activity focused on the Virgin and child, almost like a vortex. I had never thought of an engraving as creating so much movement. Curator: Indeed. What began as a devotional scene now reveals the touch of a real artistic wizard. The print really exemplifies Vicentino’s virtuosity and his ambition to elevate the medium, even. Editor: It makes me want to seek out more prints from this time! Thanks! Curator: Likewise, it's been a delightful revelation to revisit Vicentino through your fresh eyes.