Painting Question

[isabelladangelo]

http://www.wga.hu/art/l/lorenzo/monaco/ador_mag.jpg

I see Mary, the infant Jesus, and Joseph. I also see the three other halos. I get that the two guys with beards in front are two of the magi or wise men but the third looks more like Mary Magdalen to me. The high belt is typically an indication of a woman's dress in the 15th c of Italy (the idea of high waists were nothing new for women in Italy. There are also many examples in painting dating back to the last crusade) The way the person is holding the jar would also indicate Mary Magdalen, wouldn't it? Is this a bringing together of the two stories (Mary being the one according to tradition for bringing perfumed oil to the grown Lord) or is that just supposed to be a young man? However, even then, all the traditions hold that the magi were older.... And that looks too much to my eyes like a woman's dress. A very pretty outfit too...

Comments

[vesper2000.livejournal.com]

There is a crown on the ground next to him/her, so maybe that is one of the magi.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but there is also the guy behind the one of the standing Magi who is holding a crown... and the outfit just looks "female" to my eyes.

[vesper2000.livejournal.com]

It does to me, too, actually. I'd think it was a portriate of a patron if she didn't have a halo.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I'm not up on my symbolism, but I don't think that either of the two men are Magi -- they're Saints. The Crowns -- are Saints/Martyrs crowns. That's probably the Magdalene -- she's got her jar of ointment with her -- but then they all have jars of ointment, too.

Hmmmm. Are you on h-cost? I'd ask the question there.

Every painting that I've seen of the Magi, they're all quite richly (and often outlandishly) dressed, and one of them is almost always African.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

And I was going to say she's wearing a veil, but .....

Look at the old guy in the pink/orange garment on the horse. He has a high belt, and a "veil" and it's very obviously a man.

If you're on h-cost, I really would ask there.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

nope, not on that list. I was thinking of just posting it to the sca just to see if anyone might know. It could be a male for all I know but like you said, the wise men are almost always African (or Middle Eastern, not blond hair blue eyed like this one) and the clothing looks to "girly" to me for a lack of a better word. (Aka, I'd totally wear that and declare it period.)

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I'll ask if you want.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Please do! The more opinions, the better.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

ok. Do you know who the artist is? I should be able to back track and find out.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

LORENZO Monaco
Italian painter, Florentine school (b. ca. 1370, Siena (?), d. ca. 1425, Firenze)

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Got it. I'll send you what I get.

I mean the painting is titled "Adoration of the MAgi" but it just doesn't look like any Magi that I've ever seen.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Just heard from herself -- it is indeed the 3 magi. It's often true in Italian Painting that youths are feminized. You've also got the symbolism of the 3 ages of man -- youth, middle age, and Old age. Frequently, but not always, you've got 3 "races" as well -- European, Asian/Arabic and African. It's just an indication of Exoticness and Foreign-ness.

The 3's give it away -- 3 halo's, 3 gifts, 3 crowns, etc.