The Adoration of the Magi

1882
Stained glass
Church of the Assumption, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

This image combines the two traditional ways of distinguishing the Magi from each other. They represent different nations in that the one in front is white, the next one Black, and the one standing behind Asian (as indicated by his turban). But they also represent three ages of man: the Asian is youthful and beardless, the African middle-aged with a dark beard, and the European elderly with a white beard.

One of the gifts, a box presumably for the gold, stands on the floor before them. Another is in the hands of the Asian mage.

As in most such images going back to the 4th century, Mary sits on a sort of throne on a dais, her spiritual royalty surpassing even that of kings. In this case, the point is also made by the fleurs-de-lis embroidered on her dress.

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Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Date provided by Delcol.