Adoration of the Magi (Botticelli, 1475) described by Vasari as "the finest of all that are now extant for its life and vigour"), his sons Piero (the second Magus kneeling in the centre with the red mantle) and Giovanni (the third Magus), and his grandsons Giuliano and Lorenzo. The three Medici portrayed as Magi were all dead at the time the picture was painted, and Florence was effectively ruled by Lorenzo. Whether Botticelli's intimate relations with the Medici brothers allowed the wealthy Gaspare to introduce the portraits of their kinsmen in his altar-piece, or Gaspare was glad for this opportunity to pay a graceful compliment to
Prayer Bead with the Adoration of the Magi and the Crucifixion wing, with the Adoration of the Magi, complete with horses and camels, and the Presentation and the Offering of Doves (Leviticus 14:22) on the right. Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge are detailed on the outside of the wings. The use of boxwood, with its regular dense grain, allowed craftsmen to create highly detailed miniature carvings, usually with the aid of a steady hand and a magnifying glass. The lower half is dominated by the Crucifixion of Jesus, while also showing the Agony in the Garden and Saint Peter severing the ear of Malchus with his sword. Other