Venite Adoremus: The Three Kings in Italian Art

According to the biblical Gospel of Matthew, in the days after the birth of Jesus Christ, men traveled a great distance from the East to bring gifts to the newborn Savior. Variously identified as wise men, kings, or magi, the men navigated to the newborn’s humble birthplace in Bethlehem using a star for guidance. For Christians, this visit of the wise men came to mark the revelation of Jesus Christ as the son of God and king of the Jews.

In Italy, as in many other countri