About the Work
Altdorfer was born in Regensburg and is the most important representative of the so-called Danube School. This late work is characteristic of its style. The figures and the setting fuse to create a festive scene. Maria's mantle and head covering flow in voluptuous folds, and the Three Kings are opulently dressed. The architecture of the ruins, shown in great detail, is intricate and overgrown with climbing plants. Even the sky is decorated. Extravagant perspectives like the Star of Bethlehem, depicted from below, and the wooden beams above the dark-skinned king heighten the decorative effect.