The biblical story associated with the birth of the Savior of the world was popular in the Renaissance. All depicted this scene in approximately the same vein. However, Leonardo approached this topic in a completely different way. “Adoration of the Magi” is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which can be called the first sufficiently mature work in which he was able to show his personality.
In it, he used the knowledge of the anatomy of man and animals, as well as the results of experiments with perspective and his engineering research. But there is something more in this picture - the secret of its design has not yet been disclosed.
History of creation
The painting of Leonardo da Vinci “Adoration of the Magi” is exhibited at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence - the city in which it was born in 1481-1482. The canvas is painted with tempera and oil on fastened poplar boards.
29-year-old Leonardo received this order on the recommendation of his father from his friend - rector of the Augustinian monastery. The painting was intended for the altar of the church of San Donato Scopeto. He worked on the order for only seven months, but could not finish the picture (or did not want to), deciding to go to Milan to Lodovico Sforza as a military engineer. Leonardo returned to Florence only after many years.
The indignant monks hired another artist to complete the painting, who did not stand on ceremony with the author’s intention and made changes to his taste (or maybe followed the instructions of the church). Fortunately, numerous sketches have been preserved that help to unravel the plot of the picture.
Leonardo da Vinci: The Adoration of the Magi. Description of the picture
Some art historians believe that the picture is a sketch of several topics that are not related to the main semantic focus - Mary and baby Jesus. It is not visible on it, as expected, animals, for example, a donkey and an ox.
In the center of the picture is the Virgin Mary with a newborn. Around it is a semicircle of admirers in kneeling poses. In the foreground are three king-sorcerers presenting holy gifts. There is also a background, darker, with a large tree, which is registered with naturalistic accuracy.
In the upper left corner you can see a dilapidated building. At the top right are two fighting riders.
In the lower right corner is a young man who has turned away from the one to which all eyes are riveted, although his gestures point to the Holy Family. Art historians believe that this young man has a portrait resemblance to the young Leonardo.
The whole composition is built on the background of silhouettes of mountain peaks, which is typical for many works of Leonardo.
The traditional interpretation of the meaning of the depicted biblical plot
“Adoration of the Magi” is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, the analysis of which is rather difficult, since its content does not fit into the usual framework.
The composition itself is built on the principle of a pyramid, where the head of Mary determines its peak. The main theme is the offering of the gift to the future Savior by one of the Magi. While the oldest king falls at Mary's feet, the second, humiliatingly clinging to the rock, gives the baby. The third magus is only about to kneel. It is assumed that these figures personify the peoples of Asia, Africa and Europe, ready to accept a new faith.
The ruins on the left symbolize the palace of David, on the ruins of which two young trees have already grown, as symbols of a new time - an era of mercy and love. The central tree stretches with its roots to the head of the infant Christ, alluding to his kinship with King David.
The two riders on the right resemble the warring kings, who, having visited Bethlehem, decided to make peace. In general, the composition emphasizes the contrast between the light emanating from Mary and the baby and the darkness of the environment.
Finds of Maurizio Ceracini
Applying a deep scan of the paint layer, Florentine Seracini managed to penetrate under the upper layers of paint and see the original image of the “Magi”. It turned out that the picture was cut off from the bottom by 10 cm. It was polished with solvents and then primed with whitewash. Over time, cracks appeared, which again smeared, now in blue. That is, the "incomplete" picture was made mainly by subsequent manipulations.
The painting of Leonardo da Vinci “Adoration of the Magi” turned out to be filled with a mass of people engaged in various activities. In total, about 66 figures were allocated. There were also animals: a donkey, a bull and an elephant.
The three-dimensionality of the picture became more pronounced. In the foreground, gifts are brought to the sacred baby. But the Virgin does not stand on earth, but on a rock, as on a pedestal. The battle scenes were clearly visible at the top right. And the upper left corner was filled with workers erecting a new temple.
Gesture of John the Baptist
“Adoration of the Magi” is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, interesting facts about which can be noted in connection with the gesture of John the Baptist. In Catholicism, it is interpreted as a call to repentance.
It is known that John the Baptist was only six months older than Jesus. But under the central tree, Leonardo portrayed an adult with a pointing finger.
So who is more important, John or Jesus? This topic has become significant for Leonardo, accompanying him throughout his life. John followed him everywhere:
• John the Baptist patronized Florence.
• Leonardo repeatedly addressed the Baptist and his gesture in his work.
• Rafael in his painting "School in Athens" portrayed Leonardo in the image of Plato, with the same gesture of John.
Thus, Leonardo da Vinci's “Adoration of the Magi” directs the viewer's attention to the subtext associated with John the Baptist. The gesture is clearly visible, and the supporting characters, by the way, younger than the environment of the Virgin, do not look at Mary and the baby, but at the person who raised his finger up.
John's tree: what is known about him
Everyone agrees that Leonardo placed a carob tree (carob, ceratonia) over Mary, which was associated in Catholic symbolism with John the Baptist, as he wandered through the desert, he ate its fruits.
These beans were the food of the poor in ancient Egypt. Subsequently, they began to feed the animals. John was so unpretentious in the years of his wanderings that he ate only the pods of ceratonia.
During the Renaissance, the image of the "John Tree" became associated with its real presence.
Stairway to nowhere?
In fact, two stairs, each with 16 steps, are visible in the upper left part of the picture. And they lead to the upper platform - the last step of the ascent. So, in sum, this is a staircase in 33 steps. This number, announced by the next “da Vinci code”, made it possible for some researchers to suggest a connection between Leonardo and the Knights Templar - it coincides with the number of “degrees” of consecration among the adherents of this sect.
Since builders engaged in the construction of its walls were discovered under paint on the upper platform of the building, it became clear that the “symbol of paganism”, according to the author, was to be reborn.
“Adoration of the Magi” is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, in which he himself is “seen” twice.
One of the magi turned out to be suspiciously similar to Leonardo himself in old age, and the young man who turned away from the future Savior was Leonardo in his youth. There is something to think about.
Not a duel, but a battle
In the upper right square - where the image of the two fighting soldiers was originally, a whole massacre was highlighted. Seracini himself reports that the sight of this battle aroused horror in him. This is a real battle, hidden under layers of paint.
Perhaps the painting of Leonardo da Vinci “Adoration of the Magi” contains the original intent of the battle theme, which he later realized in “The Battle of Angyari”. This mural was recently found in the Palazzo Vecchio under a painting of Vasari.
If we talk about the symbolism of all the images of the artist, then in this part of the “Magi” he depicted his attitude to wars, including the Crusades - all the more so under the battle scene, the faces of people turned towards the church under construction of a different faith are noticeable.
According to researcher Seracini, the key to understanding the legacy of the great artist and thinker is the “Adoration of the Magi” by Leonardo da Vinci. The analysis and description of the painting, made by this author, largely clarifies those undercurrents that were the prerequisites for creating his mysterious paintings. Nevertheless, it can be argued that the main discoveries are yet to come.