Adoration of the Kings
by MURA, Francesco de, Fresco
Francesco de Mura painted the Adoration of the Kings in the apse calotte of the church of Nunziatella. This scene is one of the important subjects in Marian iconography. It is a somewhat unusual subject for an apse calotte. It is unknown why the subject was given such a prominent placement. De Mura’s scene has unusual features that were in part required because of its position in the apse calotte and in part the result of his interpretive enhancement of the event with scenes and motifs from everyday life. The latter occupy the entire foreground of the composition.