Adoration of the Magi

This sketch is part of a pictorial and decorative ensemble at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, a series of paintings that celebrates the figure of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. 

This study in ochre tones depicts the scene of the Adoration of the Magi, showcasing the painter’s fluid and swift execution. The composition is arranged in a pyramidal format, placing the Virgin with the Child on her lap at the moment she is being adored by Melchior. Her royal regalia lie on the ground. On the left, Saint Joseph and the portal of Bethlehem frame the space. On the right are the kings, Gaspar and Balthazar, and their entourage. The nocturnal chiaroscuro is illuminated by the star that guided the Magi.