A Triptych: central panel: The Adoration of the Magi; left wing: The Nativity; right wing: The Flight into Egypt

The Adoration of the Magi was a highly popular subject amongst artists of the period, as it provided an opportunity to focus on the rich patterns in the garments of the Kings. As pointed out by G. Marlier (La Renaissance Flamande, Pierre Coeck D'Alost, 1966, p. 120), Coecke van Aelst relied on his father-in-law, Jan van Dornicke, for the composition of these triptychs; that of the present lot follows the Van Dornicke triptych listed by Marlier as in a private colection, Paris (ibid., p. 127, fig. 51).