Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 7: Adoration of the Magi of 1475

by Sandro Botticelli

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Sandro Botticelli's 'Adoration of the Magi' depicts the biblical scene of the Wise Men (Magi) traveling to worship newly born Jesus at the Nativity, a common subject for Renaissance art. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus reside in the center of the work. The Star of Bethlehem glimmers down to illuminate baby Jesus. The three kneeling men wearing red, black, and white/gold are the three Magi. The other people are the Magi's assistants. The three Magi have brought gifts to show their devotion to Jesus. The picture is set in ruins, but new plant life grows from the cracks promising new hope and rejuvenation.

Vocabulary

Adoration: A deep love and respect.
Magi: The biblical Three Wise Men or Three Kings.
Wise Men: A group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Worship: The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for someone or something.
Nativity: The occasion of a person's birth, especially that of Jesus Christ.
Ruins: Buildings falling to a state of decay and disrepair.

Concepts

Sandro Botticelli painted 'Adoration of the Magi.'

1. Botticelli was born in the mid-1440s in Florence, Italy. See his picture below.

2. Find Botticelli's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. The 1440s were a part of the early Renaissance-era. The Renaissance is a period in European history from the 1400s to the 1700, characterized by a wider availability of books to the general populace and the rebirth in learning in the arts, mathematics, and the sciences.
4. Botticelli first worked as an apprentice goldsmith and then as an apprentice painter.
5. By his forties, Botticelli earned the title of master painter.
6. Botticelli died in 1510 at the age of 64.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Baby Jesus
• Parents Mary and Joseph
• Three Wise Men
• Bird
• Ruins
• Star of Bethlehem
• Plants
• Sandro Botticelli (He painted himself in the lower right-hand side of the picture!)

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Act Out the Painting - Gifts of the Magi

• Act out the Nativity scene with your children.
• Draw on paper, color, and cut out some gifts to bring to the baby Jesus.
• One or more people can pretend to be Magi bringing a special gift to the baby Jesus.

Activity 5: Color the Artist   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 11 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 6: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 12 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The three wise men, the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the other onlookers who came to see the baby, and the artist himself.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

Outside on crumbling ruins.

2 / 5

Question 3

Which animals are in the painting?

3 / 5

Answer 3

A bird.

3 / 5

Question 4

What symbolizes new hope and rejuvenation in the painting?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The plants growing from the cracks of the ruins.

4 / 5

Question 5

What shines down on the baby?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Rays of light from the Star of Bethlehem.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The three wise men, the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the other onlookers who came to see the baby, and the artist himself.
2. What is the setting of the painting? Outside on crumbling ruins.
3. Which animals are in the painting? A bird.
4. What symbolizes new hope and rejuvenation in the painting? The plants growing from the cracks of the ruins.
5. What shines down on the baby? Rays of light from the Star of Bethlehem.

References

'Sandro Botticelli.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.