The Magi by Joseph Binder (December 11th)

I looked at a lot of Magi/Three Wise Men paintings today, but something about this one particularly stood out for me. It is by Austrian artist Joseph Binder (1798–1864). I think it’s a combination of things – the clarity of the image, the colors (particularly the blues in the sky), the varying reactions of the men in the boat, and of course the brilliant white figure of the angel. This painting makes the well-known event of the three wise men hearing of Jesus’ birth from an angel seem very real and immediate.