The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. In the second program of a series, art historian Noah Charney explores the rich stories hidden in paintings associated with Christmas, specifically representations of the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi or shepherds.
Using examples of this theme in paintings by Ghirlandaio, Hugo van der Goes, Giorgione, and others, Charney investigates why there is often a devil lurking above an ox or donkey; the influence of Saint Bridget of Sweden on the Adoration genre; and why some of the gifts of the Magi are presented in surprisingly grim containers, including skulls, dark vessels, or blood-red boxes. Together, these and other details provide a clearer look at the intentions that artists tried to convey in their works.
Additional Secret and Symbols in Art Program
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