Offered by La Crédence
The story of the Magi comes from the Gospel of Matthew, which indicates that the Magi from the East, having followed a star, came to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King of the Jews, and offered him gold, myrrh and incense.
In the West, the number of wise men, after many variations, was established at three.
Symbols were quickly associated with them, and they ended up, in the 15th century, personifying the three continents known in the Middle Ages (Asia, Africa, Europe) after having represented, from the 12th century, the three ages of life.
Let us recall that gold, brought by Melchior, is associated with earthly power; incense is linked to religious ritual, to the sacredness of the Child; myrrh, associated with embalming, thus with the death, the Passion, and the Resurrection of Christ.
Beautiful carved and gilded wooden frame from the early 19th century.
Usual restorations . 99x76 cm with frame
