New Title Examines Role of Black King in Medieval and Renaissance Art
This book explores the presence of Balthazar in illuminated manuscripts, paintings, and more
Balthazar
A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance ArtAuthors
Kristen Collins, Bryan C. Keene
Body Content
According to the Gospel of Matthew, magi from the East, following a star, traveled to Jerusalem bearing precious gifts for the infant Jesus.
The magi were revered as wise men and later as kings. Over time, one of the three came to be known as Balthazar and to be depicted as a Black man. Balthazar was familiar to medieval Europeans, appearing in paintings, manuscript illuminations, mosaics, carved ivories, and jewelry. But the origin story of this fascinating character uncovers intricate ties between Europe and Africa, including trade and diplomacy as well as colonization and enslavement.
In Balthazar: A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance Art (J. Paul Getty Museum, $40), experts examine manuscript illuminations, paintings, and sculptures of the Black magus from Getty and other international collections. Essays by experts in the art of Ethiopia, Nubia, West Africa, western Europe, and the African diaspora add a rich interchange of ideas. They provide insight into the complex interconnections of race, religion, trade, enslavement, and colonial power that influenced images of the Black king over time. Works by contemporary artists connect to the present; they question traditional narratives of conquest, exploration, and authority and actively participate in a process of history making through their work. This extensively illustrated volume welcomes everyone—from casual readers to students and scholars. It offers a compact yet nuanced look at portrayals of the Black magus, from medieval legend to Renaissance king to popular figure today.
Endorsements
“This gorgeously illustrated volume gathers together cutting-edge articles to probe the image of the Black magus in European art. As a marker of real historical contacts, imaginary kingdoms, and known Christian princes, the presence of the Black king at the scene of Christ’s Nativity is here read within a diverse range of possible interpretations. The book’s strength is its polyvocality: no one story is put forward to explain the Black Balthazar. Rather, it tells the complicated history of the early modern period, in which connections among a whole variety of sub-Saharan African communities and western Europe were on the rise. “Balthazar: A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance Art” is required reading for those curious about how the past informs current debates about race in the West.”
— Sarah Guérin, Assistant Professor, History of Art, University of Pennsylvania
Balthazar
A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance Art$40/£30
