What is Epiphany?

Epiphany, also known as Theophany in the east, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.

Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. The spot marked by Al-Maghtas in Jordan, adjacent to Qasr al-Yahud in the West Bank, is considered to be the original site of the baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.

The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1. Those Eastern Churches which are still following the Julian calendar observe the feast on what, according to the internationally used Gregorian calendar, is January 19, because of the current 13-day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Source

Without further ado, here are my top 5 picks for classic paintings of Epiphany!

Feel free to click the links to learn more about each image and/or to download them. Thank you and God bless +

Adoration of the Magi (1573) by Paolo Veronese - Public Domain Catholic Painting
DetailsThe Adoration of the Magi by the Venetian artist Paolo Veronese is a large oil painting on canvas dated to 1573 which has been in the National Gallery, London since 1855, shortly after it was sold by the Venetian church for which it was commissioned. It shows the common subject
S.D. Cason Catholic GalleryShalone Cason
Adoration of the Magi (1642) by Guido Reni - Public Domain Catholic Painting
Please Subscribe or Donate to Help Keep This Site Free! This large altarpiece was in the artist’s studio when he died, and parts of the composition appear incomplete. Some figures lack color, and Reni never finished the wooden structure. The silvery ground layer appears everywhere, as do his chan…
S.D. Cason Catholic GalleryShalone Cason
Adoration of the Magi (1660) by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - Public Domain Bible Painting
Please Subscribe or Donate to Help Keep This Site Free! The Adoration of the Magi or Adoration of the Kings is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus
S.D. Cason Catholic GalleryShalone Cason
Adoration of the Magi (early 1440s) by Konrad Laib - Public Domain Bible Painting
Please Subscribe or Donate to Help Keep This Site Free! Laib was a German painter who spent most of his career in Austria. Proof that he came to Salzburg at an early age is suggested by the stylistic affinity of many of his works with Salzburg painting, including this one.
S.D. Cason Catholic GalleryShalone Cason
The Adoration of the Magi (1440–1445) by Giovanni di Paolo - Public Domain Catholic Painting
Please Subscribe or Donate to Help Keep This Site Free! According to the Gospel of Matthew, three Magi, guided by a star, found the newborn Christ and laid gifts before him. Artists throughout the 15th century elaborated considerably upon this biblical account, devoting particular attention to th…
S.D. Cason Catholic GalleryShalone Cason

This site is a place where public domain paintings, stock photos, and coloring pages are stored, categorized, and made searchable. Anyone can come here and use the category page in the menu or the search bar to find the perfect Catholic image for their project. Did I mention that all the images are free and creative commons? That means that you won't have to worry about copyright issues or stock photo fees.

If you'd like to keep this site free, all you have to do is give a one-time donation or subscribe monthly.