Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . 112 Taddeo Gaddi. THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI. 233 express the king of Ethiopia or Nubia, and also to indicate thatwhen the Gentiles were called to salvation, all the continentsand races of the earth, of whatever complexion, were difference of ages is indicated in the Greek formula; butthe difference of complexion is a modern innovation, andmore frequently found in the German than in the Italianschools. In the old legend of the Three Kings, as insertedin Wrights ^ Chester My
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . 112 Taddeo Gaddi. THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI. 233 express the king of Ethiopia or Nubia, and also to indicate thatwhen the Gentiles were called to salvation, all the continentsand races of the earth, of whatever complexion, were difference of ages is indicated in the Greek formula; butthe difference of complexion is a modern innovation, andmore frequently found in the German than in the Italianschools. In the old legend of the Three Kings, as insertedin Wrights ^ Chester Mysteries, Jasper, or Caspar, is Kingof Tarsus, the land of merchants; he makes the offering ofgold. Melchior, the King of Arabia and Nubia, offers frank- .^ 1- ,.-/ r\. Pinturiccl)io. incense; and Balthasar, King of Saba, — the land of spicesand all manner of precious gums, — offers myrrh.* 1 The names of the Three Kings appear for the first time in a piece of rudesculpture over the door of Sant Andrea at Pistoia, to which is assigned the date1166. (Vide DAgincourt, Scultura, pi. xxvii.) II H 234 LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA. It is very usual to find, in the Adoration of the Magi, theangelic announcement to the shepherds introduced into thebackground; or, more poetically, the Magi approaching onone side, and the shepherds on the other. The intention isthen to express a double signification; it is at once themanifestation to the Jews, and the manifestation to theGentiles. The attitude of the Child varies. In the best pictures heraises his little hand in benediction. The objection that hewas then only an infant of a few days old is futile; for he wasfrom his birth the Christ. It is also in accordance with thebeautiful and significant legend which describ
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