L'Adoration des Mages (v. 1470-1475)

Botticelli painted this in Florence around 1470, early in his career and in the demanding round format the Italians called a tondo, more than four feet across. The three kings and their long train of followers curve around the edge, all of them turned inward towards the Virgin and the Christ Child, who are lifted onto a little rise of rock so the crowd, and we, look up to them. Adoration scenes were popular with Florentine families, who liked to picture themselves among the richly dressed retinue. This panel may once have belonged to the Pucci, one of the city's leading houses.