Adoration of the Magi

sculpture by Lewis

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July 15, 2026

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The "Adoration of the Magi" is a significant theme in Christian art, depicting the homage paid to the infant Jesus by the Magi, or wise men, from the East. This event, celebrated at Epiphany, symbolizes the recognition of Jesus by Gentiles as well as Jews. Tradition holds there were three Magi, likely based on the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh they presented.

Edmonia Lewis, an American sculptor of African American and Ojibwe descent, created a sculpture titled "Adoration of the Magi" in 1883. This work, commissioned for a church in Baltimore, Maryland, is part of her broader body of Neoclassical art that explored religious and classical themes. The "Procession of the Magi" frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli in Florence also depict this theme, showcasing the opulent style of the early Renaissance.123

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Edmonia Lewis
Career and works
…commission, a version of the Adoration of the Magi, from a church in Baltimore, Maryland. It was variously reported that Lewis had last been seen in Rome in 1909 or 1911, but death records discovered in the early 21st century show that she died in London in 1907.
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…commission, a version of the Adoration of the Magi, from a church in Baltimore, Maryland. It was variously reported that Lewis had last been seen in Rome in 1909 or 1911, but death records discovered in the early 21st century show that she died in London in 1907.
Read More