10 December: Gold

Gold is the gift given by King Caspar (one of the Three Kings) to the baby Jesus. Gold signified wealth and Jesus’ status as ‘King of the Jews’. Although the Three Kings (or magi) were not specifically identified in the Bible, English translations of the Bible have suggested that they were astrologers. According to traditions in Western Christianity, Caspar is often considered to be an Indian scholar.

We highly recommend reading this article ‘Colour in art: a brief history of gold’ to learn more about the diverse and fascinating history of this material.

Here are some of our favourite pieces of gold in art history:

 
Nicola Jennings