Paolo Veronese. Adoration of the Magi, Diocesan Museum, Milan, 30 October 2018-20 January 2019

The Adoration of the Magi was painted between 1573 and 1575 for the Sacra Spina chapel of the Dominican church of Santa Corona in Vicenza, where it still lives today. During those weekdays the  artist dedicated himself to the creation of numerous altarpieces for Venice and the surrounding area, all  large and characterised by festive colors, surprising light effects and scenic settings.

The composition is dominated by an imposing Palladian ruined temple that alludes to the  declining pagan world, with a wooden hut that houses the Holy Family, derived from Pala Pesaro of Titian at the Frari of Venice. The three Magi are richly dressed in precious fabrics refecting the business of the client, Marcantonio Cogoll who manufactured fabrics. He is portrayed in the bearded character behind the dark king.

Don’t miss the relics of the Magi in the adjoining Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. They were donated in the 4th century by the Emperor of Constantinople to Eustorgio, bishop of Milan. In the 12th cnetury, the relics were  stolen and taken to Cologne, but where returnedn in part by Cardinal Ferrari, at the beginning of the 20th century, managed to return a part of them.  In the same chapel there is also the large sarcophagus which, according to tradition, would have preserved the bodies of the Magi during transport from the East to Milan.