Adoring the Christ Child in art: images of the very generous Magi
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- Start Date: 11 Dec 2025End Date: 11 Dec 2025Thu (Daytime): 16:00 - 18:30OnlineFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00
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What is the course about?
The iconography of the Adoration of the Magi is a prolific subject in medieval and Renaissance works of art. In dazzling rich, often gold-filled paintings we see the three legendary kings kneeling before the Virgin and her baby – the Christ child, soon after his birth. But do we really know who the Magi were and why they are so lovingly depicted? And most importantly why are they all dressed up to bring gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? After all, it is those gifts that are at the heart of why we celebrate Christmas by giving presents to one another to this day. This 2 hour online course will consider a range of images of the Magi at the Adoration and attempt to show the enormous range and variety in the treatment of this beloved subject matter that is so associated with Christmas.
What will we cover?
• Why the Magi at Christmas?
• Why the images of the Magi reminding us of Christmas?
• How the Magi are painted, for whom, and by whom?
• The original locations of the Magi images and what their purpose was.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Describe the art and ideas around the iconography of the Magi
· Describe the different types of images where we find the Magi
· Learn to recognise the attributes and costume of the Magi
· Discuss what the possible function of images of the Adoration of the Magi would have bee.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. This is a live lesson course - sessions are not recorded or available on demand for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Focus on: iconography
In-depth: early Renaissance.
Emma Rose Barber is an art historian who has been teaching adults for over 25 years. She specialises in the visual culture of the Middle Ages and the Italian and Northern Renaissance. She has also taught classes on British art and has designed many different courses such as Last Suppers in Florence and Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists. She has also given lectures on Women and Art. She used to run the history of art department at the British Institute in Florence and works for many institutions such as the Open University, Morley College and the department of continuing education at the University of Oxford. Her book – 111 Churches that you Shouldn’t Miss in London - is coming out in the autumn of 2020. She has spent the last five years with a Mini A-Z looking for churches to write about, many of which can be found on her blog – https://theitinerantchurchgoer.wordpress.com/. She is also writing a Cultural History of Wayfaring and writes articles for Selvedge Magazine.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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