Shutters 28 cm – painted area 19 cm

Central panel 56 cm – painted area 43.5 cm 

This triptych depicts the Adoration of the Magi. On the central panel, against an architectural backdrop heralding the Renaissance, the infant Jesus, seated on the lap of the Virgin Mary, reaches out towards the casket presented to him by one of the Magi kneeling before him. Behind the Virgin, leaning over her shoulder, a second Magi wearing a turban holds a piece of gold jewellery, waiting to offer it to Christ. 

The left panel shows the third wise man, still standing back, waiting his turn to present his gift. On the right panel, Saint Joseph, depicted as an old man, observes the scene leaning on his cane. 

On the back of the central panel is the following text :
“ Ce triptyque qui probablement fut fait cadeau à une Eglise ou Monastere de la nord Hollande plus d’un Siècle avant la réformation porte sur ses panneaux les armes de Jean Comte d’Egmond surnommé Jean avec les sonnettes et qui mourut en 1451. Il avoit épousé Marie Van Arkel dont les armes figurent à côté des siennes, elle étoit fille de Jean Van Arkel en d’une sœur du Duc Rainaud ou, Reinoud de Gueldre. Le fils de Jean, Arnold d’Egmond devint duc de Gueldre, - Il acheta les seigneuries de Hoog et Aartswoude dont les armoiries figurent sur le second panneau de Guillaume Van Hoogwoude, ces seigneuries ont passées ensuite dans les mains de la famille des Boitselaer, et ensuite dans celle des Wassenaer Harrenburg, elles ont été acquises dans la suite des tems par Monsieur Strokbroo juge de Paix a Hoorn qui possedoit un Cabinet de tableaux et d’objets antiques de grande valeur après sa mort en . Sa collection vendue le tableau fut acheté par Monsr Monchsor de la Haye qui s’étant retiré des affaires il passa dans les mains du Baron Charles de Bieberstein membre de la 2me chambre des Etats Généraux le 12 Novembre 1868. ” 

which can be translated to : 

"This triptych, which was probably given as a gift to a church or monastery in northern Holland more than a century before the Reformation, bears on its panels the coat of arms of John, Count of Egmond, nicknamed John with the Bells, who died in 1451. He married Marie Van Arkel, whose coat of arms appears next to his. She was the daughter of Jean Van Arkel and a sister of Duke Rainaud or Reinoud of Gueldre. Jean's son, Arnold d'Egmond, became Duke of Gueldre. He purchased the seigneuries of Hoog and Aartswoude, whose coats of arms appear on the second panel by Guillaume Van Hoogwoude. These lordships then passed into the hands of the Boitselaer family, and then to the Wassenaer Harrenburg family. They were later acquired by Mr Strokbroo, Justice of the Peace in Hoorn, who owned a cabinet of valuable paintings and antiques. After his death in , His collection was sold, and the painting was purchased by Mr Monchsor of The Hague, who had retired from business. It then passed into the hands of Baron Charles de Bieberstein, a member of the Second Chamber of the States General, on 12 November 1868."