Take your first step into Jan Gossaert’s world of intricate detail, technical mastery and rich meaning in a new Gallery experience where you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of his 500-year-old masterpiece.
In 'The Adoration of the Kings’, Gossaert has compressed time and space into a richly detailed, imagined setting where some elements of this familiar Christian scene are immediately clear and others are hidden for us to discover: the weave of fabric, Gossaert’s fingerprint in the green glaze where he blotted it with his hand, thistles and dead nettles, hairs sprouting from a wart on a cheek, a tiny pearl, a hidden angel...
To help you uncover the unseen, Balthasar - the Black king, pictured here with a gift of myrrh at Christ’s side - will share his journey through a world on the brink of change to be present at this moment of transformation.
Through soundscapes, spoken word, hi-resolution digital imagery and gesture-based interaction you will go on your own personal journey to discover not only the visual riches of the painting but also why it tells more than a Christmas story.
This is an opportunity to not only stand in front of the painting but immerse yourself in its world and the artistry that built it.
Access
We want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy 'Sensing the Unseen'.
COVID-19 safety
The room has capacity for between three and six visitors with social distancing; the ‘pods’ are designed for one or two people (if in the same household or bubble) and can also accommodate an adult and two small children.
'Sensing the Unseen: At home
Can’t make it to the Gallery? ‘Sensing the Unseen: Step into Gossaert's 'Adoration, mobile edition let's you enjoy the 'sonified' painting experience in the comfort of your own home.
