Gentile da Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi Flashcards
(35 cards)
Q: When and where was Gentile da Fabriano born?
A: He was born c.1370 or 1380 in Fabriano (Marche region).
Q: How did Gentile da Fabriano’s travels influence Adoration of the Magi?
The painting synthesizes the lessons he learned from working in Venice, Siena, Orvieto, and Florence, combining Northern Gothic elegance with Florentine innovations.
Q: What biblical event is depicted in Adoration of the Magi?
A: The Adoration of the Magi, where the three kings offer gifts to the Christ child and acknowledge him as King of Kings.
Q: What do the predella panels depict?
Left: The Nativity as a night scene.
Middle: The Flight into Egypt.
Right: Christ’s Presentation in the Temple.
Q: What style does the painting exemplify?
A: The International Gothic Style, characterized by decorative opulence and intricate detail.
Q: How is the narrative direction structured?
A: It moves left to right, with clearly identifiable scenes of the Magi based on their ornate and exotic costumes.
Q: What techniques emphasize opulence in the painting?
-Gold leaf on halos of the three kings and horse bridles.
-Intricate brocade and richly textured fabrics like silk, velvet, and fur.
-Deep colors like aquamarine, vermillion, and orange.
-lavish aquamarine mantle of the Virgin immediately singles her out as one of the most important figures in the altarpiece
(The narrative in the predella panels is less ornately depicted. Instead the artist uses this opportunity to show off his engagement with cutting edge styles)
Q: How does the painting incorporate exoticism?
A: Through rare animals (leopard, apes, lion), and the Eastern appearance of the central Magi, who has darker skin.
Skin tone and colour varies among the figures (eg. Joseph and the Virgin / attendant ladies / the Eastern-looking Magi)
how did the painting display courtly excellence
These, as well as the magnificent horses and a hound, add a courtly elegance to the scene that is typical of earlier Gothic work
– e.g. the dog in the right foreground looks up in fear towards a horse that is about to step on him
what does gentiles depiction of complex multiple stories and cramped figures convey
gentile used the journey of the Magi as an opportunity to display his visual imagination and technical skill.
Keen observation of detail seen in the natural poses of animals and figures, realistic details of nature in flowers and grasses.
how is the foreground cramped
Foreground figures are almost stacked on top of one another, in order to fill a limited space with a maximum number of figures.
Q: How are figures grouped to enhance storytelling?
A: Gestures and glances lead the viewer through the story, and the figures are densely packed, especially in the foreground, to maximize narrative detail.
Q: How does Gentile depict the Christ child?
A: The Christ child appears playful, blessing a Magi who kisses his foot.
Q: How are the Magi differentiated?
A: They represent the three ages of man and the universality of Christ’s kingship, shown in varying ages and appearances.
Q: How does Gentile demonstrate technical skill in the predella?
A: In The Nativity, he creates an experimental night scene with three distinct light sources.
Q: Who commissioned Adoration of the Magi?
A: Palla Strozzi, a wealthy Florentine banker.
Q: Why would Strozzi commission a religious painting?
A: As a banker engaged in usury (seen as sinful), he sought to expiate his sins and secure his place in heaven.
Q: Why was the subject of the Magi suitable for Strozzi?
A: It justified wealth, as the Magi’s material gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh) were celebrated in the Bible.
*The patron’s wealth is exhibited through the artist’s lavish use of gold leaf rendered through the opulence of the international gothic style
what book did strozzi own
-Strozzi owned Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, which advocated for civic duty through lavish public adornment.
-beautifying the city
Q: How is Strozzi represented in the painting?
-He is depicted as a courtier holding a falcon (a nod to the Strozzi name, meaning “falconer”).
Q: What personalized symbols connect the painting to the Strozzi family? and how is this humanist.
A: The crescent moon on a horse’s bridle, part of the Strozzi coat of arms.
palla strozzi depicted as a courtier holdibg a falcon (strozzi meant falcon)
huminast as refrences the patron not just biblical scenes
Q: How does Gentile use materials to highlight key figures in the narrative
A: Lavish gold halos and the Virgin’s aquamarine mantle highlight key figures and symbolize divine significance.
Q: What courtly activities appear in the painting?
A: Hunting scenes and exotic animals evoke the patron’s luxurious lifestyle and diplomatic connections.
humanist influence
-strozzi owned Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, which promoted civic duty and lavish public adornments by wealthy individuals.
The painting celebrates wealth as a means of civic contribution and divine honor.
-references patron
Relevance:
Reflects the integration of humanist ideals with Christian narratives, aligning with the intellectual trends of the Renaissance.
