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Balthasar
- The Black King
Draped
in sumptuous white cloth and adorned in Gold, the elegant young
magus (king), Balthasar, awaits his presentation of his horned vessel
of frankincence to the Christ child. His elongated slender body
frames the right hand side of the panel, and the spiritual connection
between himself and the Virgin, is emphasised by the perfect diagonal
that runs between their two heads.
With
the exception of Saint Maurice and the Queen of Sheba, Balthasar
is the most positive and important image of the black in Christian
iconography, and probably in Western art as a whole.
The
concept of the three kings, one for each root race, dates back to
the middle ages, where Africa, Asia and Europe were embraced under
the Catholic (universal) church. This became an accepted blueprint
for representations of the kings, and perhaps may have been used
as political propaganda later on.
Balthasar
has also been represented by the symbol of the sun in heraldic arms,
which defines his presence as an African.
In
bringing frankincense, a sweet fragrant homage to the divinity of
Christ, Balthasar exhibits the wisdom, dignity and importance of
an elite magus - qualities which are always visually represented.
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