Wise Men Road, Christian Wall Art

What is painted

We follow the wise men from behind. Each rides a camel dressed with a fringed, tasseled saddle cloth. The first wears a deep red cloak and a cream scarf, the second a blue robe embroidered in gold, the third a green mantle. Small gold crowns sit on their turbans, catching the last of the sun.

The road runs between pale rocks and dry grass, then snakes off across the valley toward a far line of hills where the sun is going down. The sky above is the same soft blue and glowing gold seen in the other two panels of the set.

It is an impressionist oil-style painting reproduced full bleed, to every edge of the sheet. There is no text on the print.

The journey of the Magi

Matthew 2:1-12 is the only Gospel account of the wise men. They come from the east, follow a star to Bethlehem, find the child with Mary his mother, fall down and worship him, and open their treasures: gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they go home to their own country another way.

Matthew never says there were three, nor that they were kings or rode camels. The number comes from the three gifts, and the crowns and camels from later tradition and from texts such as Psalm 72 and Isaiah 60. Many churches remember their visit at Epiphany, on January 6.

Completing the set of three

This is the third panel of a set of three paintings drawn on one continuous horizon in the same sunset light. The star over the hills opens the series and the stable sits in the center. Hang the three in a row and the riders appear to travel toward the Nativity, a simple way to tell the story along one wall from Advent to Epiphany.

Bought alone, it suits a study, a family room or a Sunday school, and it is a meaningful present for someone who sees their own faith as a long road.

The print is made to order in the US, a giclée on thick archival matte paper, and shipping inside the United States is free. It comes unframed, in sizes from 5x7 to 24x36 inches, with metric and A sizes available. A digital version is offered as well.