Adoration of the Magi (1423) is a sumptuous altarpiece by Gentile da Fabriano, filled with elegant figures, intricate details and lavish gold decoration. It is a triumph of late Gothic style, revealing technical virtuosity and imaginative storytelling, as well as meeting the exacting needs of his patron.
The man standing to the right of the youngest Magi, holding a falcon and looking at the Holy Family, is Palla Strozzi (1372-1462). He has this prominent position because he commissioned the work and in many respects, this painting is all about him. Strozzi was a banker, a nobleman and at the time the richest man in Florence. He was a humanist, knew Greek and Latin, had an interest in rare books and was knowledgeable about art. He founded the first public library in Florence. This work reflects his status, as well as his taste and ideas. It is no surprise that the artist he commissioned to paint the altarpiece for his private family chapel, was Gentile da Fabriano (c.1370-1427), at the time, the most celebrated and sought-after painter in Italy, official painter to Pope Martin V and newly arrived in Florence. Expectations would be high.
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