One of the Three Kings Adoring the Virgin and Child

One of the Three Kings Adoring the Virgin and Child by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated circa 1635-1640, is a masterful example of the artist’s prolific drawing output during his peak years in Amsterdam. Executed primarily in ink on paper, the technique emphasizes speed and dramatic light manipulation, a signature trait of Rijn's exceptional draftsmanship. Drawings of this type were essential to the working methods of 17th-century Netherlandish masters, serving as preparatory studies, compositional experiments, or highly-prized finished works for private collectors.

The subject depicts one of the three Magi, often identified as Caspar, kneeling and presenting gifts before the Virgin and Christ Child. Although rapidly executed, the composition focuses intensely on the emotional core of the adoration scene, capturing the solemnity of the moment through the expressive poses of the figures. The spontaneity characteristic of the ink medium imbues the work with immediacy and vitality.

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the drawing reflects the flourishing artistic environment of the Netherlands and the period’s enduring demand for intimate, psychologically rich biblical narratives. This important sheet is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Like many of the great masterworks from this era, the artwork has entered the public domain, making high-quality prints and reproductions widely available for scholarly study and general enjoyment.