Los Reyes Magos

Hipolito Marte Martinez, Los Reyes Magos, early 20th century, carved and painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.59
Hipolito Marte Martinez, Los Reyes Magos, early 20th century, carved and painted wood, 12 x 19 5⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (30.5 x 49.8 x 5.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.59
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Artwork Details

Title
Los Reyes Magos
Artist
Date
early 20th century
Location
Dimensions
12 x 19 5⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (30.5 x 49.8 x 5.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Equestrian
  • Religion — New Testament — Magi
Object Number
1996.91.59
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.59

Artwork Description

The three Magi (Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar) followed the star of Bethlehem to visit the newborn Christ child. In Puerto Rico, Melchior is always represented with dark skin because, according to local tradition, the rays of a star burned him. Puertorriqueño children wait eagerly for the Feast of the Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6 to commemorate the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. They leave boxes of hay and bowls of water under their beds for the Magi's horses. It is like a second Christmas as they await the gifts that will be given to them.

Works by this artist (18 items)

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William Merritt Chase, Shinnecock Hills, ca. 1895, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of William T. Evans, 1909.7.11
Shinnecock Hills
Artist
Dateca. 1895
oil on canvas
On view
Henry Wolf, William Merritt Chase, Alice, 1892, photomechanical wood engraving on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1973.130.72
Alice
Artist
Date1892
photomechanical wood engraving on paper
Not on view
Henry Wolf, William Merritt Chase, Portrait of a Woman, 1906, photomechanical wood engraving on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1973.130.224
Portrait of a Woman
Artist
Date1906
photomechanical wood engraving on paper
Not on view
William Merritt Chase, Roses, ca. 1883, pastel on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Raymond J. and Margaret Horowitz, 2014.68.1
Roses
Artist
Dateca. 1883
pastel on paper
Not on view

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Aurora Australis
Artist
oil on canvas
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George Catlin, Round Island, a Warrior, 1831, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.265
Round Island, a Warrior
Artist
Date1831
oil on canvas
Not on view
Carl Newman, (Landscape with Red Roof Building), ca. 1880-1910, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Anna McCleery Newton, 1968.121.2
(Landscape with Red Roof Building)
Artist
Dateca. 1880-1910
oil on canvas
Not on view
Alice Pike Barney, Self-Portrait Reflected in Mirror, 1896, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney, 1966.111.15
Self-Portrait Reflected in Mirror
Artist
Date1896
oil on canvas
Not on view