Magi Chapel, Private chapel in Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence, Italy.
The Magi Chapel is a private devotional room in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi decorated with frescoes on three walls depicting the Journey of the Three Kings to Bethlehem. The scenes feature detailed landscapes and processions of figures in medieval attire that unfold across the surfaces.
Architect Michelozzo designed this chapel between 1449 and 1459 within the Palazzo Medici, incorporating marble mosaics that mirror patterns from Roman basilicas. The frescoes were painted shortly after the building's completion, documenting the Medici family's artistic ambitions during this period.
The artist Benozzo Gozzoli portrayed members of the Medici family, including Cosimo and his sons, as participants in the biblical procession of the Three Kings. The figures wear garments and accessories from the era when the chapel was created, giving the scene a personal, contemporary dimension.
Visits are limited to small groups of no more than ten people to protect the delicate frescoes and preserve the intimate setting. It is helpful to check the specific visiting conditions and accessibility in advance, as this space is highly in demand.
The original altarpiece by Filippo Lippi depicting the Adoration of the Christ Child now resides in Berlin's Gemäldegalerie, with a copy displayed in the chapel. This artwork had remained in place for centuries before being transferred to Germany in recent times.
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