Adoration of the Magi, painting on canvas

This powerful painting representing the Adoration of the Magi is probably a study for the altarpiece in the Basilica of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio in Rome. Carlo Maratta (or Maratti) painted this subject more than once; another version currently hangs in St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum. The New Testament biblical subject of the kings bowing at the Virgin Mary's feet befits the signature style of this great artist from Le Marche — a cross between the classicism of Raphael and his teacher Luca Sacchi and the disruption of the Baroque. This version contains important variations compared to those in Rome and Moscow such as the absence of the other two kings and other background characters. This decisive factor definitively proves that it is not a copy since no copyist would be interested in omitting figures. The style, the canvas, the stamps on the back, and especially the exceptional quality of this small masterpiece support is by the Studio of Carlo Maratta. Housed in a beautiful,  hand carved giltwood  frame. This artwork is shipped from Rome. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy created over 70 years ago by an artist who has died requires a license for export regardless of the work’s market price. The shipping may require additional handling days to require the license according to the destination of the artwork.