'Adoration of the Magi'

Identify sitters

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation Close

'Adoration of the Magi'

by Unknown artist
lithograph, published 1878
13 3/4 in. x 20 1/2 in. (350 mm x 520 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D43055

Sittersback to top

Artistback to top

  • Unknown artist, Artist. Artist or producer associated with 6578 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The print is based on the painting of the adoration of the three kings on the chancel screen of Plymtree Church, Devon. It includes figures formerly thought to be John Morton, Arthur, Prince of Wales and King Henry VII.

Events of 1878back to top

Current affairs

The University of London becomes the first English university to admit women to examination and degree, although women had been allowed to attend classes at the University since 1830.
The former British Prime Minister Lord John Russell dies at Pembroke Lodge, in Surrey.

Art and science

Libel trial between critic John Ruskin and artist Whistler, provoked after Ruskin's review of Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket accused Whistler of 'flinging a pot of paint in the public's face'. Whistler sued Ruskin, and although Ruskin was found guilty, he only had to pay one farthing in damages; the case bankrupted Whistler.
Frederic Leighton, the renowned painter and sculptor is elected President of the Royal Academy.

International

The Treaty of Berlin is signed following the end of the Turkish-Russo war (1877-8). In a major shake-up of the Balkans, Bulgaria became autonomous, and Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania gained independence and territory, and Bosnia-Herzegovina was assigned to Austria for administration. The British delegation, including Lord Russell and Disraeli, score diplomatic success in limiting Russian influence in the Balkans, continuing to prop up Turkey.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

Frederick Hepburn

26 May 2018, 11:09

This lithograph was published in T. Mozley, 'Henry VII, Prince Arthur and Cardinal Morton, From a Group representing the Adoration of the Three Kings on the Chancel Screen of Plymtree Church in the County of Devon' (London, 1878). The Revd Thomas Mozley, sometime rector of Plymtree, proposed that the three kings were represented here in the guise of Cardinal Morton, Prince Arthur and Henry VII. These identifications must surely be regarded as fanciful, and were effectively disposed of by W. G. Constable in 'Some more Devonshire Rood Screen Paintings', The Connoisseur, 81 (May-August 1928), pp. 6-7. The screen with its paintings, dating from the early 16th century, is still there.