Framed Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabriano

Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabriano is a masterpiece of the International Gothic style, created for the Strozzi Chapel in Florence’s church of Santa Trinita. The altarpiece bursts with sumptuous detail and rich ornamentation, depicting the Biblical Magi arriving to honor the Christ child. Gentile transforms the scene into a grand pageant: a continuous narrative unfolds across rolling landscapes, filled with knights, pages, horses, and animals, leading the eye toward the humble stable where Mary presents the infant Jesus. The lavish gold leaf, intricate brocades, and jewel-like colors reflect both the opulence of the patrons and the decorative refinement of the style. At the same time, the tender exchange between the Virgin and the kneeling Magi lends intimacy to the spectacle, balancing spiritual reverence with worldly splendor. The work exemplifies the transitional moment between Gothic elegance and the early Renaissance’s growing interest in naturalism and perspective.