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Balthazar

A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance Art
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
This richly illustrated book explores the figure of Balthazar, one of the biblical magi, portraying him as a Black African king and tracing the origins of this depiction. According to the Gospel of Matthew, magi journeyed from the East bearing gifts for the infant Jesus. Among these, Balthazar came to be identified as a Black man in European art and tradition. The book examines diverse artworks—from medieval paintings and illuminations to mosaics and jewelry—that feature Balthazar, uncovering intricate historical ties between Europe and Africa involving trade, diplomacy, colonisation, and enslavement.

Experts specialising in Ethiopian, West African, Nubian, and Western European art provide insights into the portrayal of the Black magus, relating it to real African figures who may have inspired these images. The volume also highlights free and enslaved Black individuals' presence in premodern Europe and includes contemporary artistic interpretations challenging traditional views on Black history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$8399
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in art history, cultural studies, religious history, and African-European historical connections. This book appeals to those seeking a nuanced, scholarly exploration of Black representation in medieval and early modern European art, as well as to enthusiasts of richly illustrated volumes.

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This abundantly illustrated book examines the figure of Balthazar, one of the biblical magi, and explains how and why he came to be depicted as a Black African king.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This abundantly illustrated book examines the figure of Balthazar, one of the biblical magi, and explains how and why he came to be depicted as a Black African king.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, magi from the East, following a star, travelled 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 jewellery. But the origin story of this fascinating character uncovers intricate ties between Europe and Africa, including trade and diplomacy as well as colonisation and enslavement.

In Balthazar, experts in the fields of Ethiopian, West African, Nubian, and Western European art explore the representation of Balthazar as a Black African king. They examine exceptional art that portrays the European fantasy of the Black magus while offering clues about the very real Africans who may have inspired these images. Along the way, the authors chronicle the Black presence in premodern Europe, where free and enslaved Black people moved through public spaces and courtly circles. The volume's lavish illustrations include selected works by contemporary artists who creatively challenge traditional depictions of Black history.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as "a real gift," this beautifully illustrated work offers concise, insightful essays by experts that go beyond religious iconography to explore African kingdoms' rise and aspects of the slave trade, resonating with contemporary readers. It gathers cutting-edge scholarship probing the image of the Black magus, presenting a complex early modern history without a single narrative, and emphasising diverse interpretations of this important figure in European art.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781606067857

Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 March 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: J. Paul Getty Museum

Illustration: 121 colour illustrations

Contributors:

  • Edited by Kristen Collins
  • Edited by Bryan C Keene
  • Introduction by Henry Louis Gates Jr
  • Contributions by Andrea Achi
  • Contributions by Tyree Boyd-Pates
  • Contributions by Hussein Fancy
  • Contributions by Cecile Fromont
  • Contributions by Geraldine Heng

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 267.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 152

Collections

African History Arts & Culture History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

Kristen Collins is curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Bryan C. Keene (he/el/they/elle) is assistant professor of art history at Riverside City College and a former associate curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum. He specializes in codex cultures of a global Middle Ages and fantasy medievalisms.

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