Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), The Three Wise Men, 1937, oil on canvas, 60 x 45 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1943.
January 6th is the traditional Christian celebration of Epiphany, commonly known as Three Kings’ Day in the United States. For Western Christians, this holiday celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child.
“… Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2: 1-2)
Minerva Teichert is beloved among the LDS community as a woman who successfully combined faith and family and left an extraordinary legacy of artistic production. Here, Teichert depicts three wise men traveling on camels and holding gifts that they will present to the young Christ child. Through careful selection of clothing and composition, she acknowledges the mystery surrounding the wise men while also honoring their dignity and spiritual perceptiveness.