Take your first step into Jan Gossaert’s world of intricate detail, technical mastery and rich meaning in a new Gallery experience where you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of his 500-year-old masterpiece.
In ‘The Adoration of the Kings’, Gossaert has compressed time and space into a richly detailed, imagined setting where some elements of this familiar Christian scene are immediately clear and others are hidden for us to discover: the weave of fabric, Gossaert’s fingerprint in the green glaze where he blotted it with his hand, thistles and dead nettles, hairs sprouting from a wart on a cheek, a tiny pearl, a hidden angel.
Jan Gossaert (1478–1532), Adoration of the Kings, ca. 1510-05
National Gallery, London
To help you uncover the unseen, Balthasar – the Black king, pictured here with a gift of myrrh at Christ’s side – will share his journey through a world on the brink of change to be present at this moment of transformation.
Through soundscapes, spoken word, hi-resolution digital imagery and gesture-based interaction you will go on your own personal journey to discover not only the visual riches of the painting but also why it tells more than a Christmas story.
This is an opportunity to not only stand in front of the painting but immerse yourself in its world and the artistry that built it.
‘Sensing the Unseen: At home
Can’t make it to the Gallery? Sensing the Unseen: Step into Gossaert’s ‘Adoration’, mobile edition let’s you enjoy the ‘sonified’ painting experience in the comfort of your own home.