The Black King - Black is Beautiful
Go to http://www.blackisbeautifulamsterdam.nl for more information.
The Adoration of the infant Christ has been a popular theme among artists. Flemish painter Pieter Paul Rubens painted many Adorations, in which the black magus plays a remarkable role.
The magi may represent different things. If they represent the continents, the black magus represents Africa or America. They may also represent the world with which trade was desired and which would
bring prosperity and peace. Often the magi symbolized the three stages of life, in which the black magus is usually the youngest and fittest one. And there are several other roles and interpretations.
This painting for the town hall was intended to celebrate the signing of the Twelve Years Truce in the Eighty Years War. In this painting the magi probably play the role of peace ambassadors. This sketch from 1608 is a preliminary study for the magus on this painting. Interestingly, in the final Adoration Rubens magus is one of the few figures looking at us instead of at the infant Jesus. His prominent place and magnificent robes stand out as well. Rubens painted other Adorations in which our attention is drawn to the black magus.
