Adoration of Magi - Art Institute of Chicago

 Salvete Omnes,

continuing on the subject of the Epiphany and Adoration of  Magi in the pre-modern arts, a tondo by Raffaelo Botticini (1474-died after1520) from the Art Institute of Chicago. 

this tempera was painted circa 1495 and reflects equestrianism of the Florentine, Tuscany, and northern Italy styles and preferences for horses and tack. 
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enjoy

Valete

Adoration of Magi - Gerard & Domenico

 Salvete Omnes,

today is the Feast of Epiphany - and I would like to share the following particular details from some XV century Old Masters' paintings showing the Holy Family and the Adoration of Magi.

 

 Northern Renaissance painter Gerard David - Adoration from MET

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another Adoration of Magi by Gerard David - from Munich Altepinakotek 

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another Adoration of Magi by David, from Brussels.

..

and from the south of the XV century Europe -  Italian Old Master Domenico Ghirlandaio 
Uffizi Gallery

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Cappella Tornabuoni - 

saddle pommel and its adornments 

Adoration of Magi from Museo degli Innocenti , Florence

. Cappella Sassetti , Florence

..

Happy Epiphany

Valete

Pinturicchio's horses from the Duomo di Siena

 Salvete Omnes,

the Old Year is coming to close, we have the last weekend of the Old Year ahead of us, and then perhaps a better year will arrive.

So today let us enjoy some fine frescoes from the  Piccolomini Library of the  Sienna Cathedral - painted by maestro Pinturicchio and his workshop. 

Maestro Pinturicchio, born Bernardino de Betto  in Perugia, Umbria in 1454AD,  was active during the  remainder of  the XV century until his death in 1513AD. 

so maestro Pinturicchio worked in Sienna on the Piccolomini Library frescoes, monumental paintings showing the story of bishop Enea Piccolomini, who would eventually become pope Pious II, (died in 1464AD).  Cardinal  Francesco T. Piccolomini, future pope Pious III, commissioned Pinturicchio and his crew to paint these stories as frescoes. Pinturiccho  executed these paintings  between 1502-1507AD. \

Ad rem, the horses & riders and ... some dogs

Raffaelle Santi aka Raphael drew this plate 

Enea Silvio Piccolomini leaving for the Council of Basel - 

on the roan horse  there is a gilded curb-bit, large riding saddle, breastplate and sumptuous crouper but steel stirrups

Enea on a gray stallion, very sparse saddle skirt, but a large curb-bit bridle

a favorite greyhound? 

horses and mule are all shod

Enea Piccolomini presenting Eleanora/Eleanor of Portugal to the emperor Fredrich/Frederick  III . In this panel there are more horses, another mule, 

a rider accompanied by a piper and an armed assistant 

A black spirited mule with a fine greed bridle, in the background a noble rider with his armed assistant or page?

variety of horse heads and bridles, curb-bits, and a horse trumpeter 

Enea Piccolomini himself as imagined ? by the artists, with a dark grey horse with a high saddle 

beautiful Eleanor of Portugal and her equally beautiful ladies in waiting, two grey horses in the background  

enjoy

Valete

The Magi feast is coming - and Botticelli

                Salvete Omnes,

the Feast of Magi comes tomorrow - 

so I am going to take this opportunity and share some Sandro Botticelli's paitnings with the Magi adoration of Christ, simply for their beauty.. Nota bene two years ago I posted some close ups of his Italian horses from his Nativity paintings.

a small painting but intriguing

and Leonardo da Vinci Madonna and Child.

Enjoy your holiday tomorrow - and Merry Christmas to my Orthodox friends  -:) since their Christmas comes on Friday.

Valete 

ps

all  images come from Wiki Commons 

Merry Christmas with Botticelli's horses

 Salvete Omnes,

Merry Christmas & Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia & Feliz Navidad.

 

May this holiday season be  full of joy, laughter and fabulous family time - :)

 

                                                   ***

and some works by or from the workshop of maestro Sandro Botticelli

including some horse heads and horse tack from Sandro's Nativity and Adoration of Magi paintings
 

and this amazing peacock - 

Valete